{"id":104181,"date":"2023-09-28T11:30:37","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T11:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/09\/28\/lionel-messi-misses-us-open\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T11:30:37","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T11:30:37","slug":"lionel-messi-misses-us-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/09\/28\/lionel-messi-misses-us-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi misses US Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Houston Dynamo also won the US Open Cup in 2018
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The injured Lionel Messi watched from the stands as Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Houston Dynamo in the final of US Open Cup.<\/p>\n

Forward Messi, 36, was\u00a0substituted\u00a0against Toronto FC last week because of an \u201cold injury\u201d and sat out Miami\u2019s draw at Orlando City on Monday.<\/p>\n

Griffin Dorsey and an Amine Bassi penalty put Houston 2-0 up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Josef Martinez scored a consolation for Miami in stoppage time.<\/p>\n

Houston goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell made three saves as Dynamo clinched their second US Open Cup in five years.<\/p>\n

Miami\u2019s Spain defender Jordi Alba also missed the game because of injury.<\/p>\n

Miami manager Gerardo Martino said Argentina World Cup winner Messi\u2019s return to full fitness was the club\u2019s top priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was not prudent for him to play. We couldn\u2019t even consider playing him for a few minutes because we would be taking risks,\u201d said former Barcelona and Argentina boss Martino.<\/p>\n

Martino said Messi will \u201ccertainly play before the league is over\u201d.<\/p>\n

The regular MLS season ends on 21 October, with the play-offs taking place from 25 October to 9 December.<\/p>\n

Messi has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for the MLS franchise since joining in July after his Paris St-Germain contract expired.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n