Latest news with #Mascherano

Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Inter Miami to be without starting goalkeeper as it looks to rebound vs. Red Bulls
Inter Miami saw its positive momentum from a five-game MLS winning streak sapped by rival FC Cincinnati this past Wednesday. The club has a narrow, two-day window on the road to regroup from its 3-0 loss before it faces the playoff-contending New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. (7:30 AppleTV MLS Season Pass) on Saturday night. The Red Bulls are coming off a dramatic, 5-3 comeback win over New England during which they scored five second-half goals and erased a 2-0 deficit. Inter Miami will look to take down the Red Bulls shorthanded as coach Javier Mascherano confirmed on Friday that starting goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will not be available. Ustari, who suffered what looked like an injury to his lower left side, exited Wednesday's game in the 25th minute and was replaced by Rocco Rios Novo, who will get the start Saturday. Mascherano did not give specifics on Ustari's injury, but said he underwent testing for it and clearly would not be available against the Red Bulls. 'I wouldn't be able to say how long he'll be out. The doctors can probably say better as the next few days play themselves out,' Mascherano said. 'Hopefully, it's not a long absence.' Brazilian superstar Evander scored two of its goals for Cincinnati in the second half with Rios Novo in goal. On his second, he tapped home a rebound off a save by Rios Novo on a prior shot by Luca Orellano, but Evander tapped home a rebound. It's unclear how long Utsari will be out of action, but his absence could present an additional problem. It potentially leaves an Inter Miami squad dealing with the fatigue of a busy schedule thin at the goalkeeper position. Rios Novo is getting the nod ahead of recently-acquired William Yarbrough, who has yet to play for the team. And veteran Drake Callender is still not ready to return as he recovers from surgery for a sports hernia. Rios Novo played the final 65 minutes in relief of Ustari on Wednesday, and has done so twice prior - once against Columbus on May 31 in a 5-1 win and after Ustari was issued a red card in a 1-0 win over Charlotte on March 9. 'Rocco has played for us when Oscar wasn't here and when Drake has missed time so he's our second keeper with Drake out,' Mascherano said. 'It's his turn now.' Inter Miami (11-4-5, 38 points), which remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings after Wednesday's loss, is about to play its ninth game across all competitions in a span of 36 days. After facing the Red Bulls (9-8-6, 33 points), Inter Miami will have a week before its next match July 26 at home against Cincinnati. But Miami's next four matches will come over a span of 15 days as it begins competing in the Leagues Cup on July 30. 'We all hate losing, and we had good momentum going so a loss like that has repercussions on your mood, but there's no time to dwell on it,' Mascherano said. 'We're going to go out there with who we have and try to finish this marathon we've been on and secure a win that will keep us in the hunt for the top spot in the standings.' Mascherano said despite the short turnaround he doesn't expect to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup, although he did consider the possibility of using a deeper rotation to balance getting his regulars rest and rolling with the best possible lineup. MESSI EXPECTED TO START He said Lionel Messi is expected to start against the Red Bulls 'assuming he feels good to go.' Mascherano said there has been no decision made yet as to whether Messi will play in the upcoming MLS All-Star Game next Wednesday in Austin, Texas. Messi ranks second in MLS in scoring with 16 goals behind only Nashville's Sam Surridge's 17, and has 22 goal contributions in 17 league matches this season. Messi had his record-breaking streak of five consecutive games with multiple goals snapped when he was held scoreless against Cincinnati. Messi and Jordi Alba were the two players selected to play for the MLS All-Stars in the event. 'I really don't have anything to say on it,' Mascherano said. 'I honestly wish they'd have the time to rest since we have a week off, but it's not my decision and as far as I know the club hasn't decided.' David Ruiz (hamstring) did not play against Cincinnati, but was listed as available, which could bode well for his availability on Saturday. Noah Allen (hamstring), Allen Obando (hamstring), Ian Fray (adductor), Baltasar Rodriguez (hamstring) did not play either, and Federico Redondo was out while dealing with an illness.

Ammon
7 days ago
- Sport
- Ammon
Messi has 5th straight multi-goal game as Miami snaps Nashville's unbeaten streak with 2-1 win
Ammon News - Lionel Messi extended his historic streak to five straight multi-goal games, and Inter Miami snapped Nashville SC's 15-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Miami (11-3-5) won its fifth straight match and moved to fifth in the Supporter's Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the second-straight season. Messi entered Saturday's match as the only player in Major League Soccer history with four straight multi-goal games after scoring two in Miami's win over the New England Revolution on Wednesday. And he wasn't done. Messi opened the scoring Saturday on a free kick in the 17th minute. Then after Nashville tied it early in the second half, Messi put his side back on top with a steal and score in the 62nd. Messi now has 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, which is tied with Nashville's Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) for most in the league. 'There's not very many words,' Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said through an interpreter. 'It's incredible what he continues to do to break records, now every three days. He is the leader. He shows us the way to compete, and he obviously involves the rest of the players. He shows how we have to continue and how to maintain the tone that we've had. Nashville (12-5-5), which had won five straight entering the match, had jumped to third in the Supporter's Shield Standings during its unbeaten streak that went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active streak of its kind in MLS and Nashville's best stretch in its six-season club history. On his first goal, Messi bent a low free kick through Nashville's wall of defenders — a spectacular kick from the nine-time Ballon d'Or winner that gave him 55 goals in 66 Inter Miami matches. Hany Mukhtar scored the equalizer early in the second half. Andy Nájar sent a cross into the box that Mukhtar headed past Oscar Ustari to tie the match in the 49th. Messi then scored with ease after capitalizing on a gaffe by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, who mistakenly made a pass directly to Messi for the go-ahead score. Mascherano added the team has discussed how to manage its star player's workload. The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in seven straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. 'How do we take him out?' Mascherano said. 'We will continue to look, and the truth is we understand that at some point we're going to have to find that space to give him a little bit of rest. We talk about it day by day. He feels fine. According to how he's feeling at the time, if we believe that it's time to give him a little bit of rest, we'll do it.' AP

13-07-2025
- Sport
Messi has 5th straight multi-goal game as Miami snaps Nashville's unbeaten streak with 2-1 win
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Lionel Messi extended his historic streak to five straight multi-goal games, and Inter Miami snapped Nashville SC's 15-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Miami (11-3-5) won its fifth straight match and moved to fifth in the Supporter's Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the second-straight season. Messi entered Saturday's match as the only player in Major League Soccer history with four straight multi-goal games after scoring two in Miami's win over the New England Revolution on Wednesday. And he wasn't done. Messi opened the scoring Saturday on a free kick in the 17th minute. Then after Nashville tied it early in the second half, Messi put his side back on top with a steal and score in the 62nd. Messi now has 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, which is tied with Nashville's Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) for most in the league. 'There's not very many words,' Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said through an interpreter. 'It's incredible what he continues to do to break records, now every three days. He is the leader. He shows us the way to compete, and he obviously involves the rest of the players. He shows how we have to continue and how to maintain the tone that we've had. "The truth is, it is a blessing — in my case at least — to be able to be with him in this time of his career.' Nashville (12-5-5), which had won five straight entering the match, had jumped to third in the Supporter's Shield Standings during its unbeaten streak that went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active streak of its kind in MLS and Nashville's best stretch in its six-season club history. On his first goal, Messi bent a low free kick through Nashville's wall of defenders — a spectacular kick from the nine-time Ballon d'Or winner that gave him 55 goals in 66 Inter Miami matches. Hany Mukhtar scored the equalizer early in the second half. Andy Nájar sent a cross into the box that Mukhtar headed past Oscar Ustari to tie the match in the 49th. Messi then scored with ease after capitalizing on a gaffe by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, who mistakenly made a pass directly to Messi for the go-ahead score. Mascherano added the team has discussed how to manage its star player's workload. The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in seven straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. 'How do we take him out?" Mascherano said. 'We will continue to look, and the truth is we understand that at some point we're going to have to find that space to give him a little bit of rest. We talk about it day by day. He feels fine. According to how he's feeling at the time, if we believe that it's time to give him a little bit of rest, we'll do it.'


San Francisco Chronicle
13-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Messi has 5th straight multi-goal game as Miami snaps Nashville's unbeaten streak with 2-1 win
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi extended his historic streak to five straight multi-goal games, and Inter Miami snapped Nashville SC's 15-match unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Miami (11-3-5) won its fifth straight match and moved to fifth in the Supporter's Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the second-straight season. Messi entered Saturday's match as the only player in Major League Soccer history with four straight multi-goal games after scoring two in Miami's win over the New England Revolution on Wednesday. And he wasn't done. Messi opened the scoring Saturday on a free kick in the 17th minute. Then after Nashville tied it early in the second half, Messi put his side back on top with a steal and score in the 62nd. Messi now has 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, which is tied with Nashville's Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) for most in the league. 'There's not very many words,' Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said through an interpreter. 'It's incredible what he continues to do to break records, now every three days. He is the leader. He shows us the way to compete, and he obviously involves the rest of the players. He shows how we have to continue and how to maintain the tone that we've had. "The truth is, it is a blessing — in my case at least — to be able to be with him in this time of his career.' Nashville (12-5-5), which had won five straight entering the match, had jumped to third in the Supporter's Shield Standings during its unbeaten streak that went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active streak of its kind in MLS and Nashville's best stretch in its six-season club history. On his first goal, Messi bent a low free kick through Nashville's wall of defenders — a spectacular kick from the nine-time Ballon d'Or winner that gave him 55 goals in 66 Inter Miami matches. Hany Mukhtar scored the equalizer early in the second half. Andy Nájar sent a cross into the box that Mukhtar headed past Oscar Ustari to tie the match in the 49th. Messi then scored with ease after capitalizing on a gaffe by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, who mistakenly made a pass directly to Messi for the go-ahead score. Mascherano added the team has discussed how to manage its star player's workload. The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in seven straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. 'How do we take him out?" Mascherano said. 'We will continue to look, and the truth is we understand that at some point we're going to have to find that space to give him a little bit of rest. We talk about it day by day. He feels fine. According to how he's feeling at the time, if we believe that it's time to give him a little bit of rest, we'll do it.' ___


New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Messi brace buoys Miami in 2-1 MLS victory over New England
FOXBOROUGH: Lionel Messi scored twice in the first half of Inter Miami's 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday, continuing a run of form unprecedented in Major League Soccer. The 38-year-old Argentine star has scored two goals in each of his last four MLS games to become the first MLS player to score multiple goals in four straight games. He launched the streak in late May with two goals in a 4-2 win over Montreal, followed by two in a 5-1 victory over Columbus. Miami then paused their MLS campaign to compete in the Club World Cup – where Messi scored one goal in four matches and Miami were eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain. Javier Mascherano's team returned to MLS action on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Montreal – also fueled by a brace from eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi. In all Messi has 14 goals in 15 MLS games, putting him two behind leading scorer Sam Surridge, who has appeared in six more games for Nashville than Messi has played this season. "Obviously, Leo is a special player," Mascherano said. "For me he's the best player that has played this sport in history. It's unbelievable how he continues doing things that maybe many years ago we thought that we cannot see at this moment." Messi put Miami up 1-0 in the 27th minute at Gillette Stadium, taking advantage of a Revolution miscue and firing a left-footed shot from the heart of the area. The Argentinian star doubled the score 11 minutes later, charging onto a long through ball from Sergio Busquets and curling a left-footed shot beyond the reach of Slovenian goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. "They have played for many years so just when they see each other they connect and they know what they think," Mascherano said of the Busquets-Messi connection. "In the second goal, Busquets understands when and where Leo wants the ball. It's fantastic for us." Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari also starred for Miami, coming up with six saves before Spaniard Carles Gil managed to put one by him, picking off Tadeo Allende in the 79th minute and rifling in a shot from outside the box. With the victory Miami climbed from sixth to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. On 35 points, they are seven points behind leaders FC Cincinnati but with three fewer matches played after their Club World Cup break. Their jam-packed July schedule continues on Saturday against Nashville, one of three matches in the next 10 days. Mascherano said New England's late goal meant he couldn't afford to take Messi out.