- Tadeo Allende - 46'
- Oscar Ustari - 38'
Inter Miami beats Charlotte as GK Ustari sent off, Messi sits
10-man Inter Miami get 1-0 win over Charlotte FC
Despite being down to 10 men, Inter Miami get a goal from Tadeo Allende and hold on for a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC.
An early second-half goal by midfielder Tadeo Allende was all host Inter Miami needed to overcome the odds and secure a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC on Sunday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Inter Miami (2-0-1, 7 points) picked up its second victory of the MLS season despite the absence once again of superstar Lionel Messi and the loss of starting goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, who drew a red card in the 38th minute of the match.
Messi has not played since a win over Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 25 because of what coach Javier Mascherano has called fatigue. Still, Miami fans shouted Messi's name throughout Sunday's match, hoping to get a look at the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner in action. He remained on the bench.
Despite playing one player short for the remainder of the contest, Miami secured three valuable points thanks to a heads-up strike to open the second half.
Allende scored a goal for the fourth consecutive match, counting the team's Concacaf Champions Cup competitions. In the first minute of the second half, Allende took a deep ball from Gonzalo Lujan, who moved to the center back position to start the second half. Allende then back-heeled the ball to Luis Suarez, who was trailing the play. Suarez then looped it right back to Allende as he surged into the 18-yard box, chested the ball down and quickly fired a shot past Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
Inter Miami's short-handed defense did the rest led by defender Yannick Bright, who broke up several potential scoring chances.
Ustari was dealt the red card when he impeded Charlotte forward Wilfried Zaha on a breakaway as he surged toward the box.
The decision put Inter Miami in a bind at the keeper position as third-stringer Rocco Rios Novo entered the game with Drake Callender unavailable as he is still dealing with an adductor injury.
Inter Miami is the first team to draw a red card in three consecutive MLS matches since NYCFC in 2021. Miami's defense was up to the task, however, and made sure Rios Novo never had to make a save.
Charlotte (1-1-1, 4 points) mustered its best opportunity in the 79th minute when Patrick Agyemang gained possession near the sideline and fed the ball to a surging Iuri Tavares, who found Idan
Toklomati open near the goal. He crossed it past Rios Novo, but it glanced off the far post.
Inter Miami has received an MLS-high three red cards this season.
Miami remains unbeaten in league play, while Charlotte lost its first league match of the season despite leading in time of possession, corner kicks -- 13 to Inter Miami's 2 -- and total shots, 8 to 4.
Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Guido Gonzales Jr.
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| Inter Miami CF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
| Columbus Crew | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
| FC Cincinnati | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| D.C. United | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +1 | 5 |
| Charlotte FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| New York Red Bulls | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| New York City FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Nashville SC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Atlanta United FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Orlando City SC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| New England Revolution | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
| Toronto FC | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| CF Montréal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
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