Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati Share Points in Scoreless Draw

A vital moment in the match where both teams are vying for control of the ball.

News Summary

Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati played to a scoreless draw at Chase Stadium, missing key players due to suspensions imposed by MLS. Head coach Javier Mascherano criticized the league’s treatment of marquee players and pointed out officiating inconsistencies. Despite achieving 13 total shots, Inter Miami struggled to capitalize on opportunities and remain in contention for a playoff spot while addressing their offensive strategy moving forward.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Inter Miami faced off against FC Cincinnati on July 26, resulting in a scoreless draw at Chase Stadium. The absence of star players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, both suspended by Major League Soccer for missing the All-Star Game, raised questions about the league’s treatment of its marquee players.

Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano expressed criticism towards MLS for the suspensions, particularly noting inconsistencies regarding the impact of such decisions based on whether a match occurs at home or away. He pointed out that this disparity seems to appear when it comes to monetization, suggesting that the league prioritizes profits over sporting integrity.

Despite the absence of their key players, Inter Miami recorded 13 total shots against FC Cincinnati’s eight, although they were outmatched in shots on target, managing just three to Cincinnati’s four. The draw allows Inter Miami to maintain its position in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 42 points. FC Cincinnati, now in second place with 49 points, trails only the Philadelphia Union, who hold 50 points.

Mascherano highlighted officiating issues during the match, claiming Inter Miami has yet to be awarded a penalty kick this season, marking them as the only team in MLS without one. He cited two specific instances in the game where he felt his team was deserving of a penalty. The officiating came under further scrutiny when a potential goal by Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson was disallowed due to a foul called against their player Noah Allen after a video assistant referee (VAR) review confirmed the wrong decision.

Inter Miami’s new goalkeeper, Rocco Rios Novo, achieved his first clean sheet with the team, and this was also the team’s first clean sheet since June 14. The match highlighted the need for a more potent offensive strategy, particularly in the absence of Messi. Notably, other players were missing from the lineup due to suspensions and injuries, including Maxi Falcon, who was sidelined due to yellow card accumulation. Miami had previously suffered a 3-0 defeat against Cincinnati in their last encounter, which made the recent draw feel like a missed opportunity to gain vital points in a highly competitive league.

As Inter Miami looks ahead, the focus will be on finding ways to improve their performance and accumulate more points in the second half of the season, especially with the challenge of dealing with player suspensions and injuries. The attention remains on how the suspension decisions by MLS will impact the team’s future matches and their overall standings as they seek to secure a playoff position.