Allianz Field- Inter Miami CF was mashed by Minnesota United 4-1 in one of Miami’s worst performances of the season. Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Anthony Markanich, Robin Lod, and Marcelo Weingandt’s (own goal) were the Loons’ scorers. Lionel Messi scored the Heron’s only goal of the game.
The Herons get mashed in Minnesota… Dominated by the Loons, Mascherano & Miami have a lot of work to do…#Messi & not much else today…4-1 … #MLS #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/GcE0uGsgC4
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Starting XI
Javier Mascherano fielded a strange starting XI versus Minnesota, lining the team up in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Luis Suárez was unavailable for personal reasons, as was Fafa Picault due to a migraine headache, with Allen Obando questionable because of a hamstring discomfort. The missing pieces on the attack might have been the reason Mascherano fielded a defensive minded team in Minnesota.
Oscar Ustari in goal, with Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Gonzalo Lujan, and Marcelo Weigandt the back four. Sergio Busquets, between the midfield four of Telasco Segovia, Federico Redondo, Yannick Bright, and Benjamin Cremaschi. The legend, Lionel Messi, was the lone forward.
Mascherano continues to surprise with his lineups… Picault is not rostered & Fray continues to ride the bench…#Messi up top with Cremaschi & Segovia…#MLS #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/iRQ4xYDPxi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Match Action
Inter Miami CF was the team that maintained possession of the ball in the match, but Minnesota was the team that was efficient with its opportunities. Bongokuhle Hlongwane crossed a shot past Ustari to give Minnesota the 1-0 lead 32 minutes into the game.
Minnesota gets the opening goal on a good sequence where Pereira hides the ball from ⚽️ the #InterMiamiCF defenders & ends in a United goal…1-0 Loons #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Anthony Markanich headed the ball past Ustari for the Loon’s second goal and the 2-0 lead just before halftime. Marcelo Weigandt was out of position, and Markanich’s header easily beat Ustari.
The Herons fall asleep on a long throw-in by Minnesota & get scored on…Weigandt is out of position & his man puts the second header in the box for the Loons in the back of the #InterMiamiCF net ..2-0 Minnesota… #MLS #Messi has been quiet…
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Miami’s lone hope for a score, Lionel Messi, got one back for Inter 3 minutes into the second half. Messi brilliantly controlled a Jordi Alba cross with a touch forward and placed the ball into the Loon net past the diving goalkeeper. That would be all Miami could muster on the night, but the loons were not finished.
The GOAT 🐐 gets one back for #InterMiamiCF … #Messi slides one into the United net after a prodigious first touch controls the ball ⚽️…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Inter Miami is susceptible to the set plays into the box because of their lack of height on defense, and Minnesota took full advantage. Another corner kick was headed twice in the Miami box and ended in a Minnesota goal. Unfortunately, this time Marcelo Weigandt was the player who headed the ball into his own goal for the Loon’s 3-1 lead.
Another set piece goal for Minnesota…Again the initial header pushes the ball ⚽️ to the 2nd post … This time Chelo is in position but heads in for the own goal… 3-1 Minnesota #MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
The Loons had one more for Miami as Robin Lod smashed a left-footed missile into the corner of the net to provide the final 4-1 scoreline. A miserable afternoon for Miami ended in a mashing in Minnesota.
The Herons are falling apart in Minnesota as the Loons score a 4th goal..#InterMiamiCF is in shambles right now…Mascherano & his lineups & tactics aren’t working…#Messi #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 10, 2025
Postgame
Javier Mascherano had a pair of comments that caught my attention in the postgame press conference. First, Mascherano talked about how Inter Miami had “control” in the first half and were unfortunate that Minnesota took the lead in two plays.
In the first half we had control, possession of the ball, but in two plays, they hurts us badly in a game we had under control.
It seems Mascherano considers the simple possession of the ball without much danger to the opponent’s goal as control of a match. Inter Miami has become too predictable and stagnant, with the free-flowing passing around the pitch lacking. Minnesota controlled the match, and it showed on the scoreboard, 4-1.
The other statement that was baffling to me was when Javier said that Miami knew how Minnesota could hurt them, and that they had prepared, but Inter Miami still ended up hurt exactly by what they had prepared for.
We knew Minnesota could hurt us this way, with transitions, set pieces, and they ended up hurting us in exactly the way we prepared for.
If set pieces were a point of focus for the Minnesota match, why did Mascherano align such a short backline? Ian Fray, Toto Aviles would have made more sense, adding height to counter Minnesota’s height advantage. I’m wondering if Mascherano is thoroughly analysing each game or if he’s simply placing the players he’s personally more comfortable with in the starting lineup.
Final Thoughts
Mascherano is on the hot seat, at least with the fans. After a honeymoon start to his tenure with Inter Miami, the current team struggles have fans in a frenzy. Masch needs to shake things up a little bit, or he could find himself on a short leash soon.
Lionel Messi is frustrated, and he has every right to be. The level of play on the team has dropped, and he seems to be fighting an uphill battle on his own. It takes a team to win a championship, one man can’t do it all. Everyone on the Inter Miami squad needs to step up and help the Goat if Miami is to win anything this season.
All hope is not lost. Miami can still win MLS, but it will take a reboot. Masch, Messi need to be aligned on how this team is going to play and line up. A much too defensive posture on the pitch is counterproductive for a team like Miami. The Herons need to have possession but must also become more vertical, more direct. Who can help Lionel in the midfield? Busquets, Telasco, Bright, and Cremaschi all have to be better.
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