Without their star, Miami looked as mediocre as could be as they settled for an unlikely draw.
Inter Miami’s performances can easily be described as Jekyll and Hyde because there are two very different types of games from this team. The very different representations of this Heron are not defined by duality or some old English fairy tale, although… the explanation is actually much simpler.
It’s not really Jackyl and Hyde. it is with Messi and without Messi.
On Wednesday night we saw the last one. The Argentine star was out to bat and Tata Martino was not willing to risk him given the short turnaround. And, as a result, we got a “No Messi” performance in a 0-0 draw with rivals Orlando City.
With Messi, Miami breaks electricity records. They beat teams while beating them, scoring goal after goal while making history every week. Without Messi, they’re basically like everyone else, prone to the same days that define MLS clubs.
The Herons looked average on Wednesday. The defense was largely stellar against a dangerous Lions team, but the offense had a Messi-sized hole. The former Barcelona star may be small in stature, but he casts a large shadow, and when that shadow is missing, Miami tends to struggle.
That’s what happened this time. Even with Luis Suarez leading the line, the Herons never really got going. New signing Matias Rojas was unable to add the magic that defined his early matches. Robert Taylor hasn’t been as lethal as he was during that sensational run last season.
As a result, the Herons will get a draw and advance. They’ll live to fight another day, but Wednesday’s game was more proof that this team can’t fight nearly as hard without its Argentine star leading the charge.
TARGET rates the Inter Miami players from the Inter&Co…