MLS
Messi-less Miami lose U.S. Open Cup final to Houston
The Houston Dynamo defeated Inter Miami 2-1 to win the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday with an injured Lionel Messi watching from the stands at DRV PNK Stadium.
Without Messi and his former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba, Miami struggled to compete with an enterprising Houston and went in 2-0 down at the break.
Houston grabbed the lead in the 24th minute with a perfect counter-attack ending with Brazilian Artur feeding the overlapping Griffin Dorsey who blasted in at the near post.
French forward Amine Bassi doubled the lead from the penalty spot nine minutes later after DeAndre Yedlin had brought down Nelson Quinones.
Houston thought that they had scored a third after the break but Quinones’ effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Substitute Josef Martinez gave Miami some late hope with a left-foot strike in stoppage time after latching on to a ball from Argentine Facundo Farias.
But despite some late pressure, it was too little, too late from Miami and Houston deservedly won their second U.S. Open Cup to add to their triumph in 2018.
Miami had won the Leagues Cup last month with Messi prominently involved but they must now battle to make the Major League Soccer play-offs with uncertainty over their Argentine star’s fitness.
-AFP
American professional soccer club, Real Salt Lake has acquired Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji from Czech top-flight side Sparta Prague on Wednesday.
Olatunji, 25, arrives for a reported $2.5 million transfer fee and is under contract through June 2028 with options for the rest of 2028 and all of 2029.
To complete the deal, Real Salt Lake is sending $125,000 in 2026 general allocation money to D.C. United to obtain Olatunji’s discovery priority.
“We are excited to welcome Victor to Utah, another move we’ve been working on for some time,” RSL chief soccer officer Kurt Schmid said. “Victor’s speed, strength and intelligence in the box should allow him to fit into our attack.”
Olatunji has racked up 42 goals and 11 assists in 192 club appearances in Austria, Cyprus, Slovakia and the Czech Republic since 2017.
-Reuters
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Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday.
The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster.
“Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS said in a statement.
The suspension will see Messi, the league’s main attraction, miss Inter Miami’s match against the visiting FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Cincinnati lead the Eastern Conference standings.
Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season.
“I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don’t think there’s a player – or anyone – who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.”
All-Star competitions are a mainstay of North American sports, where the men’s “Big Four” leagues use the exhibitions to boost their players’ profiles, but a rarity in professional soccer.
“We’re going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I’m committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve,” said Garber.
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas described both players as “consummate professionals” who were “extremely upset” about the suspensions.
He explained that the club made the decision for the players to miss the All-Star game to prioritize their rest and health during a demanding stretch of matches. Mas strongly criticized the rule, calling it “draconian.”
“The ones that get penalized are the club, the fans, sponsors, Apple TV, and so on,” Mas told reporters during a conference call on Friday
“I expressed our disagreement with the league’s decision, and I had conversations with the commissioner both this morning and late last night,” he said.
“But notwithstanding that, the decision is what it is.”
Mas added that there was no appeals process available
-Reuters
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An unlikely person helped save Lionel Messi from receiving a postmatch red card on Wednesday night — San Jose Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena.
Messi of Inter Miami was irate when he was tackled just outside the box during second-half stoppage time of the 3-3 tie in San Jose. He barked at the officials after the non-call and his frustration increased after the contest ended, resulting in a yellow card.
Messi was still barking at the officials while shaking hands with assorted players on the field when he headed over to further confront the trio. Head referee Joe Dickerson said “walk away now” to the fuming Messi.
But there was Arena standing in the mix with Messi and the three officials, serving as part peacemaker and part negotiator before personally walking Messi away.
“He was obviously not happy, and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card,” Arena said during his postgame news conference. “I just tried to move him out of the way, because for him to get a red card at the end of the game would have been ridiculous.
“I just wanted to make sure we get him out of there and he’s ready to play the next game for Miami.”
Messi has five goals and three assists in nine MLS matches this season entering Sunday’s home game against Orlando City.
The tie with the Earthquakes gave Inter Miami a point but the club is just 1-2-1 over the last four MLS matches and 1-4-1 across all competitions. Miami has allowed 17 goals in the six matches.
-Reuters
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