Inter Miami Are Dropping Points, And Their Stars Are In Hiding: Mls Weekend Wrap

Another Inter Miami match, different hat-trick by an Argentinian No 10. Just not nan 1 you expected.

Martín Ojeda put connected a masterclass connected Sunday and led Orlando City to a shocking 4-3 conclusion of Miami that saw nan Lions go conscionable nan 3rd squad successful MLS’s 30-year history to triumph aft trailing 3-0. As Ojeda raised his arms successful triumph astatine nan last whistle, Lionel Messi – who scored a wonderment extremity of his ain and added 2 assists – headed consecutive for nan locker room.

Miami are winless successful 4 games since christening Nu Stadium successful April, but Saturday’s nonaccomplishment carried other weight, coming astatine nan hands of their in-state rivals and 1 of 1 of MLS’s poorest sides. And while there’s plentifulness of blasted to dispersed astir successful Miami’s camp, defenders Maxi Falcón and Micael put successful atrocious performances against Orlando. Miami really continued to frighten offensively until nan last whistle but their protect ineptitude comes arsenic nary astonishment to anyone who has watched them successful 2026, aliases past twelvemonth for that matter.

Miami’s attempts astatine bolstering an already iffy backline – 1 that has suffered greatly from nan nonaccomplishment of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets this offseason – progressive bringing successful defending MLS goalkeeper of nan twelvemonth Dayne St Clair, on pinch defenders Micael and Sergio Reguilón. The adds intelligibly haven’t worked; Miami person fixed up doubly arsenic galore goals astatine this constituent successful nan play arsenic they had successful 2025. They proceed to struggle successful protect transition. And pinch a midfield laboring contempt nan beingness of Rodrigo De Paul, giveaways are arsenic communal arsenic they are dangerous. Only an in-form Messi and a fistful of different standouts person kept Miami – who are 3rd successful nan Eastern Conference – successful decent shape.

Who, then, will look nan music? Inter Miami are already connected their 2nd head of nan season, aft Javier Mascherano’s astonishment resignation on pinch astir of his coaching staff. Guillermo Hoyos, Messi’s “football father” and formerly Miami’s sporting director, is now caput coach but took only 1 mobility from nan media connected Saturday, delivering a single, terse reply earlier leaving nan room.

As for players, neither Falcón nor Micael – nor immoderate 1 of Miami’s postulation of stars – had to reply for their capacity to nan media. This is run-of-the-mill worldly astatine Miami, who person shirked nan league’s media and unfastened locker room policies for years. More precocious they look to person taken that attack to caller heights, refusing lucifer credentials to immoderate longtime section media since moving to Nu Stadium.

Left to transportation nan load, then, was Miami defender Noah Allen. Allen, on pinch chap fullback Ian Fray, were astatine slightest serviceable connected Saturday, pinch Fray scoring Miami’s opener. Allen, who is often near to reside nan media connected behalf of his teammates, was asked connected Saturday whether it’s been reliable to capable that domiciled each week successful spot of much elder players. In a world wherever players are much often than not polished and master to nan constituent of tedium, Allen’s reply was unfastened and honest.

“Yes,” Allen said. “I’m not going to lie.”

We’ll person to spot if Miami support marching him up there.

Frustration boils over

Cavan Sullivan had immoderate prime words aft being subbed retired connected Saturday. Photograph: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The Philadelphia Union’s 0-0 tie against Nashville SC would person been forgettable, but for 1 notable moment.

About 68 minutes successful – and pinch nan Union stretched defensively – caput coach Bradley Carnell pulled 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan. Sullivan, who was starting conscionable his 3rd convention lucifer of nan year, was unhappy. We cognize this because 1 could publication Sullivan’s lips arsenic he jogged disconnected nan field: “Fucking bullshit, motherfucker.”

Aside from nan Union’s tally successful nan Concacaf Champions Cup, Sullivan has mostly been near retired of Carnell’s plans, astatine slightest arsenic a starter. It’s been a head-scratching determination astatine times, pinch nan Union circling nan drain successful nan Eastern Conference, successful request of immoderate productivity up apical that Sullivan could provide. It’s led immoderate to mobility whether Sullivan’s maturation is being stunted by nan Union up of a perchance life-altering transportation – he has a clause successful his statement that will spot him move to Manchester City erstwhile he turns 18, aliases perchance earlier to 1 of their sister clubs.

It’s besides adjacent to inquire what anybody is expected to expect from Sullivan, who was moreover younger than MLS’s different notable phenom, Freddy Adu, erstwhile he made his first squad debut successful 2024.

Carnell praised Sullivan’s capacity aft nan lucifer and pinned nan substitution connected a tactical shift.

“You know, nan beforehand four, they put truthful overmuch for america and location were a mates of plays astatine nan extremity location wherever [Nashville] brings connected [Andy] Najar, particularly down that side,” Carnell said. “That’s why we had to get [Agustín Anello] connected conscionable from a physicality constituent of view, conscionable to do nan recoveries arsenic well. So, you know, decidedly not capacity related because he did really well.”

Carnell’s remarks aside, outbursts for illustration Sullivan’s are ne'er adjuvant and whitethorn tally antagonistic to nan wide appraisal of Sullivan, aliases astatine slightest nan 1 that existed erstwhile nan Union announced he’d beryllium headed to Manchester City successful nan first place. Back then, decision-makers astatine nan Union said of his maturity and professionalism. Saturday’s outburst doesn’t mean that appraisal is wrong, though – rather, we conscionable saw a different broadside of Sullivan, though galore successful attendance astir apt understood his frustration.

San Diego standoff goes aerial

The borderline telenovela betwixt San Diego FC and Chucky Lozano has reached marque caller heights. Altitudes, even.

Lozano has been excluded from San Diego’s plans this twelvemonth and has been training distant from nan team, having precocious posted thing akin to an “everybody hurts” video of himself wandering astir San Diego’s training installation alone. The club’s caput coach, Mikey Varas, gave an almost hilariously curt reply past week erstwhile asked if Lozano – who is making $7.4m a twelvemonth – coulc return to nan team, offering nan following: “No chance.”

Yet San Diego’s pitiful commencement to nan play has fans clamoring for his return, pinch immoderate supporters chanting Lozano’s sanction during matches. Just earlier Saturday’s lucifer against LAFC, a level appeared overhead towing a banner pinch a connection for Varas, aliases anybody who would listen: “FREE CHUCKY = MORE WINS.”

San Diego really looked decent against Los Angeles and very astir won, undone heavy into second-half stoppage clip by a arguable Ryan Hollingshead strike.

Something tells maine we won’t beryllium seeing Lozano anytime soon, airborne pleas beryllium damned.