(Los Angeles) Without Lionel Messi, absent due to injury for a fourth consecutive match, Inter Miami fell heavily to Chicago (4-1) on Wednesday in MLS, and saw qualification for the playoffs slip away.
Inter Miami lost to a direct competitor for qualification in the playoffs, notably conceding a double from Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri, in front of 62,000 spectators, an attendance record for the Chicago Fire.
But the public was unable to see Messi, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose physical state is still unclear.
Returning from the selection at the beginning of September with “muscle fatigue”, according to his coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the Argentine world champion, aged 36, has since played only 37 minutes against Toronto on September 20 for missing five matches, including the last four of his new club.
His coach says he is bothered by a scar from an old injury on his right leg.
In the Eastern Conference standings, Miami is still 14th and penultimate with 33 points, five points from 9th qualifying place one for a play-off leading to the final phase. The Floridians have three games remaining before the end of the regular season, one more than most of their competitors.
On Saturday, Miami will host Cincinnati, leader of the Eastern Conference.