MLS: Messi less Inter Miami Suffer Defeat to Montreal Despite Jordi Alba Scoring

• A Messi-less Inter Miami side dropped points in the MLS
• The Miami-based club lost to Montreal away from home
• Jordi Alba was on target for Miami but it was not enough

Inter Miami slumped to their first defeat of the Major League Soccer season on Sunday, losing 3-2 at home to Montreal after the Herons opted to rest Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Fernando Alvarez, Matias Coccaro and Sunusi Ibrahim scored the goals for Montreal, who moved into second place in the Eastern Conference standings where they trail Miami on goal difference.

Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino opted to rest several of his first choice starting line-up, with Messi omitted from the squad altogether and Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets on the bench.

Messi-less Inter Miami drop points

But the wisdom of that decision soon came under scrutiny after Montreal dominated the early exchanges before Alvarez headed the visitors into the lead from a corner in the 13th minute, GOAL reported.

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Miami finally got back on level terms in the 71st minute, with Campana heading home at the back post after a pinpoint cross from Lawson Sunderland.

Yet Miami's hopes of preserving their unbeaten start to the season were left in tatters after Montreal scored twice in three minutes soon afterwards.

Coccaro made it 2-1 after heading home Mathias Choiniere's cross, and then Nigerian forward Sunusi Ibrahim made it 3-1 with a deflected effort after a sweeping Montreal counter-attack.

Alba raised hopes of an Inter Miami fightback with a fabulous 80th minute strike from the edge of the area that curled into the top corner, but despite a late Miami onslaught, the visitors held on to take all three points.

Messi’s wayward free kick hits baby

Lionel Messi has developed a reputation for being pinpoint with his free kicks and is one player you want in your team to take one.

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Against Orlando City, the World Cup winner lacked his usual finesse when taking a free kick and ended up putting it into the crowd.

Sports Brief reported that Messi's shot hit a baby girl in the stands, and social media couldn’t get over the unfortunate incident.