Inter Miami erases two-goal deficit to beat Montreal 3-2 as Messi arrives in Canada

MONTREAL — CF Montreal was at home on Saturday, but a player from the opposing team stole the night.

Lionel Messi – considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time – took the American soccer scene by storm with his move from Europe to Major League Soccer last year.

“Messi Mania” finally reached north of the border this weekend as Inter Miami CF erased a two-goal deficit to edge Montreal CF 3-2 in the Argentine superstar’s professional debut in Canada.

“The atmosphere was crazy,” Montreal forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint said despite the loss. “One of the craziest nights I’ve seen at Saputo Stadium.”

An announced crowd of 19,619 feverish spectators displayed plenty of Montreal CF jerseys, but the colors of Argentina baby blue and Inter Miami pink – and one fan even dressed in a Messi tracksuit wearing a goat mask – were overwhelming.

So were “Messi! Messi! Messi!” chants throughout the evening, even with Montreal down a late goal.

“I understand that people are cheering for Messi,” said Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois. “For me, as a head coach, when I lose, to hear my stadium cheering for the other one when we lose, it’s tough.”

Messi was not the only star in the house. Former FC Barcelona stars Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets joined him in the starting line-up.

Suarez scored his 11th goal of the season, league-leading Matias Rojas had a goal and an assist and Benjamin Cremaschi scored the game-winner in the 59th minute as league-leading Miami (8-2-3) won its fifth game consecutive.

Messi Mania, however, came and went in Montreal without a goal or assist from the man himself, despite his scorching form.

The 36-year-old entered the match with 10 goals and 12 assists in eight league games, following a record of one goal and five assists last week, but was kept off the scoresheet for the first time this season season.

Meanwhile, Montreal’s Vilsaint had a goal and an assist under Messi’s spotlight.

“I’m still in this moment, it doesn’t seem real,” Vilsaint said. “I feel like it went too fast. I have no words to explain.

“To share the court with these guys, it’s unforgettable.”

Bryce Duke also scored for Montreal (3-5-3) and said doing it against Messi made it even more special.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Duke said. “You watch him when you’re younger on TV and he’s one of those guys that every time he plays, you’re kind of in awe and then you share a field with him or share the field with them, it’s cool.

“Definitely keeping this in my memories.”

The hosts dropped points for the fourth straight MLS game. The club played its first game since officially parting ways with sporting officer Olivier Renard on Thursday.

After Suarez and Rojas scored late in the first half, Cremaschi put the visitors up 3-2 by sliding in the ball and beating Jonathan Sirois after a Montreal defensive breakdown.

Montreal pressed for the equalizer for much of the second half, but couldn’t generate quality chances on goal.

Messi, in search of a goal, began to show his talent late in the second half. The star forward had several runs through Montreal’s defense and also won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 87th minute, setting the stage for the crowd to erupt with a goal.

The main attraction failed, sending his shot just over the bar.

“It’s a great achievement for the team,” Duke said of keeping Messi off the scoresheet. “Especially after he had five assists and a goal last week. I mean, it’s crazy.”

Fireworks went off outside the stadium to kick off the show. The crowd erupted with Messi’s first touch, before the superstar immediately gave it away.

Montreal then went on the offensive in an electric first half.

Duke opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a left-footed finish between Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender’s legs after a perfect ball from Vilsaint.

Vilsaint then placed a clinical shot into the bottom right corner after a give-and-go with Ariel Lassiter in the 32nd.

“I’m very, very happy with the performance,” said Courtois. “The way we came up with a quality move and allowed us to get more established and limit turnovers against two of the best players at their position in decades, nice. a lot.”

Fans held their breath in the 40th minute when Montreal’s George Campbell caught Messi in the leg with a hard foul.

Messi fell to the ground in pain for several minutes as trainers took to the pitch, but eventually stood up to more cheers.

With Messi off the pitch temporarily, Rojas did his best impression of the all-time great. Rojas fired a superb 30-yard free kick into the net in the 44th minute to get Miami on the board.

“To concede against 10 men like that because we’re not going to close the half mentally is heartbreaking, but it’s my fault,” Courtois said.

Suarez then leveled the game in first-half stoppage time with a header at the back post from a corner before Cremaschi’s goal.

IT FOLLOWS

Miami: Visit Orlando City SC on Wednesday.

Montreal: Hosts the Columbus Crew on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 11, 2024.

Daniel Rainbird, Canadian Press