Messi was caught criticizing MLS rules on an Apple broadcast and more during Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over Montreal

Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over CF Montreal on Saturday night was a now-typical Inter Miami performance: it was another comeback victory. After conceding the first two goals of the match, Miami once again fought back to claim victory in Messi’s first match on Canadian soil. It was Miami’s fifth straight win after conceding the first, a trend that has defined the early part of the team’s 2024 season. This is also the first time Miami has won five consecutive MLS matches in club history.

New MLS rules disrupt Messi, Martino and Suárez

In April, MLS implemented a series of new playing rules that are starting to make headlines. An in-stadium VAR announcement from veteran referee Ismail Elfath went viral last week. In Montreal, what MLS called the off-field treatment rule and the timed substitution rule angered the league’s premier club.

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After Messi received a tackle from Montreal central defender George Campbell late in the first half, the Argentine was treated on the field by Miami medical staff. Campbell did not receive a yellow card for the challenge and Messi eventually left the field, but was then visibly agitated when the fourth official kept him on the sidelines for two minutes. According to MLS, the new off-field treatment rule requires players to “remain off the field for at least two minutes for further evaluation and treatment.”

But Messi couldn’t wait to get back on the pitch. When Inter Miami was awarded a free kick just outside the Montreal penalty area (an ideal spot for a left-handed player), Messi turned to a side camera, shook his head and seemed say, “If they make rules like this…we’re in trouble.” » Matías Rojas replaced Messi and calmly placed the free kick into the upper right corner of the Montreal net.

Messi: “With these types of rules… we are doing badly.” 🗣️

pic.twitter.com/dDBw15vHSU

— All about Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) May 12, 2024

Later, Suárez was substituted in the 90th minute, but he did not leave the field in less than 10 seconds. The timed substitution rule states the following: “Failure to exit from any point on the field within 10 seconds will require the incoming player to wait a waiting period of 60 seconds, before entering the game at the next stop. During the waiting period and before the substitute comes in, the team will play down one player. Exceptions to the rule include injuries and goalkeeper replacements.

After the match, Martino shared his thoughts on the rule changes with reporters.

“Leo committed a foul and (Campbell) should have received a yellow card, which would have saved Leo from having to leave for two minutes,” Martino said. “For me, the team that suffered the infraction was punished. Obviously, with these new rules, there will be situations that will have to be analyzed. It was clearly a yellow card and then we lost Leo for two minutes.

Suárez had to be stopped by Martino from confronting the fourth official, but Martino called it a misunderstanding between his team and that official. Even though Martino thought Suárez had one minute to leave the field instead of 10 seconds.

Rojas continues to shine

The Paraguayan international’s impressive free kick as Messi looks on from the touchline will attract plenty of attention.

BANGERS ONLY 🤯 An absolute marvel from Matias Rojas 🇵🇾 💥 pic.twitter.com/Byn6C8Sj2o

– Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 12, 2024

His assist to Cremaschi for Inter Miami’s winner was just as important.

The precision of Matías Rojas in Benja which gives us the advantage 🎯🤩 pic.twitter.com/ToQoBDGM97

– Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 12, 2024

With Montreal’s midfield and defense focused on Messi, Rojas became Inter Miami’s playmaker. Rojas and Messi attract a lot of attention from the opposition, which in this case allowed Cremaschi to make an unmarked run through the middle and finish.

Rojas is a versatile midfielder who excels in the final third. He has been a necessary addition for Martino, a manager who knows the strengths of Paraguayan players very well. From 2002 to 2006, Martino won four first division titles with two of Paraguay’s biggest clubs, Libertad and Cerro Porteño. He was instrumental in Paraguayan Miguel Almirón’s decision to sign with Atlanta United in 2016. Two years later, Almirón would become the most expensive sale in league history.

During his introductory press conference two weeks ago, Rojas told reporters in Fort Lauderdale that he had received interest from Boca Juniors. “It’s an extraordinary club but I was already planning my career elsewhere,” Rojas explained.

He didn’t mention Martino, but presumably a phone call from Martino still carries a lot of weight in South America, especially Paraguay.

Martino is responsible for the slow start

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino previously spoke about his team’s propensity for a slow start. It’s been discussed and repeated in team meetings, Martino said last week, but the solution isn’t as tangible.

“We can’t always analyze it from the same angle. Sometimes the other team plays,” Martino said after the match. “Obviously it’s better that we score first and then take care of the game from there. Tonight’s circumstances were different from previous cases.

Martino, however, took the blame for Saturday’s two-goal deficit on himself. Inter Miami started in a 5-3-2 formation, which Martino said was intended to advance the team’s lines and push Montreal higher up the pitch. Instead, Montreal found space on the wings and easily counterattacked Inter Miami. After Montreal’s second goal, Martino switched the Inter Miami formation to a 4-4-2. This season, Inter Miami has been more effective in a four-man defense.

“I shouldn’t change the way the team plays,” Martino said. “We feel comfortable playing a specific way. I changed the team tonight to match what I considered to be Montreal’s strengths. When we came back to 4-4-2, it was us.

Fortunately for Martino, Inter Miami is led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan scored his 11th goal in injury time of the first half, which leveled the score at 2-2 before the break. Inter Miami academy product Benjamin Cremaschi scored what would be the winner in the 59th minute. Messi, however, was kept off the scoresheet after his record-breaking performance last weekend against the New York Red Bulls, ending his streak of seven consecutive MLS matches.

The Argentina captain was unable to reproduce five assists and a goal against Montreal, but the 36-year-old was active in attack throughout the match, despite the injury scare.

Inter Miami remains at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 27 points in 13 games. They have scored 35 goals and conceded 20.