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New Delhi: Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by FC Cincinnati in the absence of suspended stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba at Chase Stadium on Saturday night. The two stars were suspended as they missed the MLS All-Star match.
Despite being sidelined, the Argentine star was present at the stadium, watching the match from a suite. Messi’s absence on the field was clearly felt especially with Miami eyeing back-to-back Supporters' Shield titles. Club co-owner Jorge Mas didn’t mince words when reacting to the suspension, calling the decision “draconian” and revealing that Messi was “extremely upset” at missing the match.
The goalless scoreline didn't reflect the intensity of the match as both teams came in with momentum, having won six of their previous seven games. Cincinnati, fresh off a convincing 3-0 win over Miami just days earlier, remained in second place in the Supporters' Shield standings with 49 points. Miami stayed in fifth and are now on 42 points with the draw doing little to close the gap.
Cincinnati nearly stole the win in stoppage time when defender Miles Robinson found the net off an Evander free kick. But his effort was waved off due to a foul which added to the frustration of the traveling fans.
Even without Messi pulling the strings, veteran striker Luis Suarez showed glimpses of class early in the match. One of his standout moments came when he played a brilliant pass to Fafa Picault whose header was smartly saved by Cincinnati’s goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Adding to the excitement, Inter Miami formally introduced their newest signing, Rodrigo De Paul, ahead of kickoff. The Argentine midfielder is Messi’s close friend and longtime national teammate and was greeted with loud cheers and welcome signs as he walked onto the pitch.
“I’m going to give everything I have,” De Paul told fans, already hinting at what’s to come in the next chapter of Inter Miami’s ambitious journey.
Inter Miami will next face Atlas on Thursday, July 31, with Lionel Messi set to return after serving his one-game suspension.
