Messi-Less Miami's Playoff Hopes Fade After 4-1 Chicago Rout
Inter Miami's quest for an MLS playoff spot took a severe hit on Wednesday as they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire, and with just three games remaining, their playoff destiny is no longer under their control.
The absence of Lionel Messi in the lineup was palpable as Chicago's Xherdan Shaqiri stole the show with a brace, supported by a Maren Haile-Selassie double. The loss leaves Miami near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and five points adrift of the final playoff position.
In contrast, the Western Conference saw five teams, including reigning champions Los Angeles FC and top-seeded St. Louis City, secure playoff berths during Wednesday's action.
The eagerly anticipated appearance of Argentine World Cup winner Messi attracted a record home crowd of 62,124 to Soldier Field in Chicago. However, it was Shaqiri, Chicago's diminutive number 10, who dazzled the audience.
The Swiss former Liverpool and Bayern Munich playmaker netted two goals, while Haile-Selassie added a pair of his own. Chicago's win has enhanced their playoff prospects, propelling them to eighth place and potentially their first postseason appearance since 2017.
The scoring action unfolded in the second half, with Shaqiri breaking the deadlock four minutes after the restart. Miami quickly equalized when Josef Martinez converted a penalty after a handball by Chicago's Jonathan Dean. Chicago regained the lead when Haile-Selassie found the net in the 62nd minute, and he struck again to make it 3-1. Shaqiri then completed the rout with a composed finish.
"It's beautiful to see Soldier Field packed for a soccer game, and I hope they'll come more and more because we showed today how good we are, and the team spirit is here," said Shaqiri. "Every game now is a final… It was a perfect night for us."
In the Western Conference, the Seattle Sounders clinched a playoff spot with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy, securing their 14th playoff appearance in 15 seasons. Cristian Roldan scored the late winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Last year's MLS Cup champions, Los Angeles FC, secured their postseason berth with a convincing 5-1 win against Minnesota United. Denis Bouanga scored a first-half hat-trick to lead the way.
The Houston Dynamo and Vancouver Whitecaps also punched their playoff tickets, with the Texans drawing 1-1 at Montreal and the Whitecaps defeating St. Louis 3-0.
Charlotte kept their slim postseason hopes alive in the East with a 3-0 victory over Toronto, featuring two first-half penalties from Karol Swiderski. Despite sitting in 13th place, Charlotte is just two points behind ninth-placed Montreal, the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
The New York Red Bulls remained in contention with a 2-1 victory over Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati. Cincinnati had already secured the top seed in the playoffs but suffered an early deficit before Luciano Acosta's penalty goal brought them back into the game.
D.C. United's playoff aspirations took another hit with a 3-0 loss to Austin, a result that keeps the Texan side in the playoff race in the Western Conference.
SportsLigue