Inter Miami missed out on the opportunity to add another trophy to their cabinet this year after suffering a 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night.
On the other hand, Dynamo captured its second U.S. Open Cup to add to two MLS Cup titles.
Playing without their star forward Lionel Messi, Inter struggled to pose a real threat to Dynamo and often looked overmatched. Houston took care of the business with two goals in the first half and then confidently cruised through the second half. Miami only managed to get on the scoreboard deep in stoppage time.
Inter has been on a hot streak since Messi joined the club, winning the Leagues Cup in August for their first trophy in club history and putting themselves in a position to sneak into MLS Cup playoffs. However, they are still five points away from the positions that guarantee a spot in the postseason, and Messi’s absence significantly lowers their chances of getting there.
Messi suffered an injury during international duty with Argentina, and it is unclear when he might return to action. However, Miami’s head coach Gerardo Martino told reporters that he expects the 36-year-old to return before the 2023 regular season ends.
“It was clearly not prudent for him to play, not even for a few minutes,” Martino said after the Dynamo match. “We couldn’t take the risk … But he will surely play again before the end of the season.”
