Without Messi, Inter Miami finished with 9 players and achieved an unexpected victory on their visit to Philadelphia

Short Lionel Messi, who is already with the Argentine National Team to play the Copa América, and there was no magic for Inter Miami, although there was an unreal victory that allows Gerardo Martino’s team to stay at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference positions. It was a difficult to forget 2-1 against Philadelphia at Subaru Park, despite the fact that Las Garzas ended up with nine players due to the expulsions of David Ruiz and of Tomas Aviles. Thus, with two less, Leo Afonso found the space to give the victory to those in pink. Before, Mikael Uhre had put the home team ahead and Julian Gressel had scored the temporary tie.

The game went uphill for Inter Miami. And not only because he did not have Messi, but he also dispensed with the services of Luis Suárez, who is with the Uruguay national team. So, with the game just started, Watches opened the scoreboard and Martino He had to rethink his proposal to go in search of equality.

It was difficult for him, mainly because of his lack of figure, but also because he did not find a way to crown the good situations he managed to create with a goal.

He was only able to resolve the issue in the second half, when barely two minutes had passed after the restart. Julian Gressel He found a loose ball and, well positioned in front of the goal, took a very strong shot that was unstoppable for goalkeeper Oliver Semmle.

With the confidence of the tie and the clean and jerk that the goal allowed, Inter began to dominate the game, although Philadelphia also tried, without luck, to Drake Callender.

With things tied and the two teams trying to achieve the final imbalance, the match gained in dynamism because neither closed ranks to let the minutes run out.

Inter did not do it, they lost David Ruiz at 22 minutes for a red card with which the referee Ismir Pekmic sanctioned an avoidable and untimely infringement by the American midfielder.

Despite the numerical advantage, Philadelphia failed to make a difference. What’s more, Inter had an unbeatable chance with 10 left, but the header from Benjamin Cremaschi He didn’t have the necessary direction.

The team he leads Jim Curtin He also attempted a coup de grace from a counterattack that came from a side taken at lightning speed, which goalkeeper Callender saved well and drowned out the scream of Quinn Sullivan.

The vertigo at the end was accentuated when Tomás Avilés saw the second yellow card for kicking a ball away and consequently also had to leave the field with 10 minutes left.

With nine players, Inter Miami did not only focus on multiplying so that the numerical difference was not decisive. He didn’t lower his arms either.

Thus, in time, Las Garzas had a sensational counterattack that culminated in Leonardo Afonso.

Without Messi, Inter confirmed a trend of the season: they started by losing 13 games and with the victory over Philadelphia, they turned around seven games.

The victory allows Inter Miami to remain at the top of the Eastern Conference, five points behind Cincinatti, which – with three games less – is second.