Lionel Messi absent, Dinamo Miami loses Open Cup against USA

Lionel Messi observed from the sidelines as Connect Miami CF misplaced 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo within the U.S. Open Container last after he was not named within the squad due to an damage picked up whereas on Argentina obligation.

Supervisor Gerardo Martino said Tuesday that whether his star player was accessible or not would come down to a game-time decision. When the lineup was uncovered ahead of the ultimate at DRV PNK Stadium, Messi was not recorded on the group sheet.

"It was clearly not judicious for him to play, not indeed for a number of minutes," Martino said after the coordinate. "We couldn't take the hazard.

"But he will doubtlessly play once more some time recently the conclusion of the season. His interest will be decided diversion by diversion based on the restorative team's input."

Messi's previous Barcelona colleague Jordi Alba also sat out the misfortune as he managed with an harm of his claim, with both players spotted within the stands in street clothes in no time after kickoff.

With two of their stars lost, Miami were overmatched and Houston took full advantage, scoring twice within the to begin with half from Griffin Dorsey's close-range thunderbolt and a punishment by Amine Bassi as the guests controlled the game.

Miami, who were making a moment offered for a trophy this season after winning the inaugural Associations Container competition between MLS and Liga MX, attempted to drive their way back into the diversion but needed the wrapping up touch and might as it were marshal a late reassurance objective from Josef Martinez.

When the ultimate shriek blew, it was Houston that included a moment U.S. Open Glass to their trophy case after winning it in 2018.

"Nowadays, I saw a worn-out and tired group," Martino said. "We were moreover constrained by the wounds, so our execution was influenced by those circumstances."

Thousands of fans turned up within the Post Lauderdale range late Wednesday evening -- many of them wearing Messi shirts either within the blue and white of Argentina or the pink of Associate Miami -- long some time recently the entryways opened for the Container last, in case for no other reason than to observe the group buses arrive.

However, when the buses arrived there was no Messi, a reality that might have driven to an costly disillusionment for a few fans. Ticket costs on auxiliary markets, with joins to sales posted on the team's social media channels as as of late as Tuesday, extended from $145 to about $4,000 almost an hour some time recently the coordinate.

Messi had been in and out of Miami's lineup since returning from worldwide obligation for Argentina with a leg damage related to an ancient scar tissue issue. He did not play in a misfortune to Atlanta Joined together on Sept. 16 and attempted to play Sept. 20 against Toronto FC but was pulled back after approximately 30 minutes in a amusement Miami went on to win 4-0.

Alba was substituted with muscle weakness within the Toronto amusement in no time some time recently Messi, and after the coordinate Martino said not one or the other would play in Saturday's amusement absent to Orlando City. Miami managed a draw in that coordinate to keep their MLS Container playoff trusts lively.

Messi's affect on Miami since arriving in July in a blockbuster bargain has been momentous. He's scored 11 objectives and contributed to a add up to of 16, with the group having never misplaced a game in which he played.

Miami are five focuses behind Unused York City FC, which they confront Saturday in MLS, in the standings for the ultimate playoff spot with five recreations to play and two diversions in hand.