Messi, Suarez start for Inter Miami vs. Columbus, Mascherano tweaks lineup
Challenged with making up for an injury-plagued roster, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano tweaked his starting lineup Saturday for the home game against the Columbus Crew.
The team was missing injured defenders Jordi Alba and Gonzalo Lujan, as well as defensive midfielder Yannick Bright, who is also out indefinitely with a hamstring injury. Tomas Aviles sprained his ankle in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Montreal, but was on the bench on Saturday, available if needed.
Mascherano replaced Ian Fray with the more defensive-minded Marcelo Weigandt at right back and started Benja Cremaschi over Fede Redondo in midfield.
The Miami Starting XI included: Oscar Ustari, Weigandt, Maxi Falcon, David Martinez, Noah Allen, Cremaschi, Telasco Segovia, Sergio Busquets, Tadeo Allende, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Messi and Suarez scored two goals each in the win over Montreal.
Available on the bench are Rocco Rios Novo, Fray, Aviles, Ryan Sailor, Redondo, Fafa Picault, Leo Afonso and Allen Obando.
Miami's defense has been shaky of late, giving up 15 goals over the past five games. Miami has just two wins over the past nine games, sits in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and would leapfrog fourth-place Columbus with a win.
Like Miami, the Crew is in a bit of a slump, heading into this game on a five-game winless streak with four ties and a loss. Columbus is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. Inter Miami is in sixth place with 26 points and has a game in hand on the top nine teams in the conference.
'We want to play a good game Saturday, reinforce what we did against Montreal and improve in the areas we need to improve,' Mascherano said. 'We know we are facing, in my opinion, the best team in MLS, without a doubt. They have a coach who has a very clear style and does it very well. It is important for us to neutralize them and not let them play their game and control the game and win it.'
Miami beat Columbus 1-0 on the road April 10 on a goal by Cremaschi. But it could be tougher this time with so many players injured.
'Clearly, we have a very long list of injuries,' Mascherano said Friday. 'I would love to have a crystal ball to know when they'll be back. For sure they cannot play this weekend. Then we have two weeks, and, although I am not a doctor, we think a few of them can recover by then. And then, we hope the players who are leaving for national team duty come back healthy, as well.'
The team is off for FIFA break after Saturday's game and returns to action June 14 for the opening match of the Club World Cup against Egyptian team Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium.
Messi was called up by Argentina for World Cup qualifiers against Chile June 5 and Colombia June 10. Segovia was called up by Venezuela for World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia June 6 and Uruguay June 10. Haiti invited Fafa Picault for World Cup qualifiers against Aruba June 7 and Curacao June 10.
Cremaschi will be with the U.S. Under-20 national team in Egypt for a camp and friendlies against Colombia June 7 and Egypt June 10.
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