Lionel Messi scored a spectacular goal in a thrilling match between Inter Miami and Colorado Rapids in his return. However, the late collapse of the Herons overshadowed his injury comeback.



In their first-ever matchup, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/xavi-to-mls-rumors-swirl-after-recent-inter-miami-slump/">Inter Miami</a> and the Colorado Rapids played to a 2-2 tie at Chase Stadium. 



The team’s captain, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/apple-counting-on-messi-to-promote-mls-not-champions-cup/">Lionel Messi</a>, had a triumphant comeback and scored Inter Miami’s first goal. Leo Afonso, the first-round choice from the MLS SuperDraft, also scored to give Miami a 2-1 lead before Colorado tied it up near the end.



The encounter also saw the season-opening assists from David Ruiz and Franco Negri. The latter was returning to the squad after an injury that had sidelined him since June 2023.



<h2>How did Inter Miami fare in first half?</h2>



As compared to their starting eleven in the first leg of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fine-soon-messi-and-inter-miami-clash-with-monterrey-boss/">CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals last week</a>, Inter Miami made seven changes for this clash.



At the outset, Drake Callender was in goal, with David Ruiz, Ryan Sailor, Noah Allen, and Franco Negri forming a four-man defense.



Julian Gressel, Tomas Aviles, and Lawson Sunderland were the starting midfielders, while Shanyder Borgelin and Afonso were the attackers who partnered with Leonardo Campana. 



Also, after overcoming complications from a sports hernia operation in January, midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi made his 2024 team debut.



It had been a close contest up until the first half, when the Herons took a major knock. Just before halftime, Leonardo Campana exited the game because of an injury. 



He is the latest offensive player to miss time due to injury, joining Robbie Robinson, Facundo Farias, and Robert Taylor at the medical table.



Despite little improvement, the situation deteriorated further as the Rapids grabbed the lead minutes before the break. 



The Herons’ Ryan Sailor sent Rapids winger Kevin Cabral tumbling in the penalty area. Rafael Navarro then took the penalty that followed and put them ahead going into halftime.



<h2>Messi returns in second half with immediate impact</h2>



Nevertheless, spectators at Chase Field did get some good news after the break: Messi replaced Lawson Sunderland. Just as quickly, the Argentine made an impression.



After a long layoff, he returned to action in the 58th minute and scored a spectacular goal from beyond the box, sparking the Herons’ comeback. Two minutes after that, he set up Leo Afonso for a goal with a beautiful assist.



Nevertheless, a pattern emerged: Miami would eventually concede. Once again, Miami’s rival scored in the last minutes of regulation time; this time, it was Cole Bassett of Colorado who scored an equalizer in the 88th minute.



The two sides played to a tie and a point each, although Tata Martino’s club will probably see this as a defeat. For the third game in a row and four matches overall, Inter Miami has failed to secure a victory.



“I think we keep committing errors that cause us to leave points on the board…It’s typical of not having a reading of the match, of the moment, of being out of position and it surely costs us”, Tata Martino <a href="https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/match-recap-inter-miami-cf-secures-draw-at-home-against-the-colorado-rapids" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said after the game</a>.



Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Inter Miami still winless despite Messi's return from injury

Lionel Messi scored a spectacular goal in his return. However, the late collapse of the Herons overshadowed his injury comeback.

Inter Miami still winless despite Messi's return from injury - World Soccer Talk

This year’s baseball season is shaping up to have more MLS cities in contention than in past years.&nbsp; The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are off to really good starts, and this is not&nbsp;good news&nbsp;for MLS.&nbsp; Currently, both teams sit in first place of their respective divisions.&nbsp; These two cities have drawn better at the gate than any other MLS teams, but will it continue if their baseball counterparts continue to position themselves for a playoff push?
In Toronto on Saturday, Soccer outdrew baseball.&nbsp; According to MLS-daily.com’s attendance and YahooSports attendance figures for boxscores in baseball, Toronto FC had 19,998 and the Toronto Bluejays had 18,331.
The one city MLS need not worry about in baseball is Washington, D.C.&nbsp; The Nationals are the worse team in baseball.&nbsp; But on Saturday, they still outdrew arguably the proudest MLS team.&nbsp; They drew 19,9950 to the United’s 14,225.&nbsp; Go figure that one.
The biggest story in baseball so far has been the Los Angeles Dodgers.&nbsp; They look like they might run away with the division.&nbsp; If they do, ultimately, that could be better for the&nbsp;2 LA soccer teams.&nbsp; But, surely they will be a story to watch for Southern California sports fans this summer.&nbsp; It also looks like the LA Angels will hang around to try and win the division as they have hung around pretty well for each of the last 10 years , either&nbsp;winning divisions or making it close.&nbsp;
The Dodgers drew 47,000 Saturday, while the Galaxy drew 21,000.&nbsp; Surely, the Galaxy would have done better head to head Saturday had Manny not signed that big contract, and had Beckham stuck to the plan.&nbsp;
At Wrigley&nbsp;Field, the&nbsp;Cubs drew 40,000, probably to be expected, knowing the history there.&nbsp; The Cubs are a decent team this year and they carry&nbsp;a more than 100 year relationship with sports.&nbsp; Their drout makes them always the lovable loser and an interesting team when they win.&nbsp; It would be better for the Fire, who drew 10,000 on Saturday, if the Cubs have a crappy season, but that’s not happening apparently.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The Fire need to be compared head to head to the White Sox too, who also seem to be contending.&nbsp; In fact, because of parity, it seems many MLS cities are competing in baseball this year, like the Astros and Rangers.&nbsp; But, maybe they’ll sail out of contention as the year moves on.&nbsp;
The Royals of Kansas City would definitely seem a likely candidate to sail out of contention, but it doesn’t help MLS or the Wiz that the Royals are having a decent season.&nbsp; They have been bad for a long time, so when they are good, it seems an anomaly, and fans start to pay attention.&nbsp;
One team who won’t fall out of contention this year is the Philadelphia Phillies, the defending champs.&nbsp; They are riding a wave in which the core of the team is sticking around.&nbsp; The Phillies have reestablished themselves with their fans&nbsp;via a new stadium and may make it rough on the newest expansion team for MLS next year.&nbsp;
In Colorado, the Rockies seem to be in the decline, and it appears it will be a long season for their fans.&nbsp; But, the Nuggets of the NBA are picking up the slack, pulling out John Elway of Arena Football League fame to announce their starting 5 in a crazed playoff atmosphere last night.&nbsp; The hockey team had a bad year and the Broncos had an unusual year, so as the Rapids average 11,000 in attendance,&nbsp;is it maybe a result of too much sports for one town?&nbsp; 5 pro teams may be one too many.&nbsp;
Colorado seems a good case for general managers&nbsp;from MLS to look to not schedule head to head against rival sports leagues.&nbsp;
It seems it is best to hold back on any judgement on the Red Bulls as everyone awaits their new stadium, which looks appealing.&nbsp; Next year will be interesting to see how they do head to head versus the Mets and Yankees.

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities - World Soccer Talk

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities

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Not to be outdone by rivals Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur has announced a strategic partnership with a Major League Soccer club.
In 2007, Arsenal announced a partnership with Colorado. Now <a href="http:\/\/www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/clublaunchpartnershipwithsanjoseearthquakes.html" target="_blank">Spurs have announced a deal with San Jose Earthquakes</a>. The major difference with the Spurs deal is that it sets the wheel in motion for Tottenham to conduct future US tours.
According to Tottenham Development Coach Clive Allen, “The relationship will provide us with the opportunity to exchange coaches and methodology as well as providing a base for the Club in any future US tours. Our aim is to support the development of MLS by using our wealth of experience in the game on a number of levels. Football development will certainly be an integral part of the partnership, but other areas of our infrastructure will be beneficial models such as the work we do in the community with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.”
Tottenham Hotspur first visited the US in 1951 to play Manchester United at Yankee Stadium, New York. The match ended with a 7-1 scoreline in favor of Spurs. In 1966 the Club toured the US for the first time and played matches in numerous locations including Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Jersey City and San Francisco. Tottenham Hotspur last visited the US in 2003 to play DC United in the Capital Cup, which resulted in a defeat against the Washington-based team.
It’s not known when Spurs will play preseason friendlies in the United States, but it may happen as early as the summer of 2009 or 2010.

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