Messi Brace secures three points for Inter Miami at home against D.C.

Leading up to Saturday night’s showdown in Fort Lauderdale, D.C. United faced a lot of changes in their front office after parting ways with general manager Ally Mackay earlier in the week, after two seasons in the role. 

Aaron Herrera started for D.C. United in their defeated by Inter Miami on Saturday night. Photo Credit: D.C. United

Meanwhile, on the field, D.C. was looking to extend its 4-game unbeaten streak against Inter Miami on the road at Chase Stadium. In a close game where both teams created several goal-scoring opportunities, it would be Inter Miami that would be the victor in the match as they inch closer to sealing their spot in the playoffs, as they defeated D.C. with a final score of 3-2. 

“It’s a very important win because, by the end of this week, we earned the six points we needed here at home,” said Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano. “We’ve moved up in the standings, and we still have some games in hand. If we can get good results, it will allow us to climb even higher and finish near the top of the table. We all know that the first objective is to secure a playoff spot, which we’re just one win away from, and then try to finish as high as possible to have the advantage of playing at home.”

D.C. appoints Erkut Sogut as Managing Director of Soccer Operations

D.C. United announced Friday afternoon the hiring of former Sports Lawyer and agent Dr. Erkut Sogut as the Managing Director of Soccer Operations for the club, this coming off the heels of parting ways with GM Ally Mackay earlier in the week after two seasons at the club. 

"I am honored to take on this role with D.C. United and to work alongside René Weiler in driving this club to compete at the very top of MLS,” said Sogut. “My foundation in sports management, combined with two decades of work in global football, has prepared me for this role, and I look forward to bringing my drive and experience to D.C. United.” 

Sogut is the founder of Pitchside, an executive search company that places CEO’s and senior leaders in both federations and club teams, as well as heading The Football Week, which is a media and publishing company. Sogut was the agent of German International Mesut Ozil, taking part in Ozil’s record transfer fee from Real Madrid to Arsenal in 2013. He played a prominent role in identifying and recruiting current D.C. United head coach René Weiler. 

He has also been a published author, writing a fiction series called “How to Become a Football Agent: The Guide,” which is set in the underworld of elite soccer. He has also been an adjunct professor for Sports Law, Sports Marketing, and Sports Management, and has held various positions in his career, from working in the German Indian Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi, working for a German law firm in Istanbul, and delivering seminars in various colleges around the world. 

"Erkut possesses the right mix of qualities to lead our soccer operations as we build for the future," said Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, D.C. United Co-Chairmen. “With Erkut's appointment, we are adding a globally connected dealmaker who has a proven track record in player identification and recruitment, as well as someone who has a strong relationship with René. Their alignment is critical moving forward." 

Sogut will be involved in several facets of the Balck and Red’s efforts in rebuilding the squad ahead of next season and the club’s efforts to create an MLS Next Pro side in Baltimore. 

The Game 

D.C. United had the first clear goalscoring opportunity of the game, when Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari mishandled a shot from distance from Brandon Servenia. The ball went in between the veteran Argentine’s goalkeeper's hands, but the ball went out for a D.C. United corner. 

Inter Miami would take the lead in the 35th minute, when Lionel Messi played the ball from his own half, lobbing the ball past the D.C. backline to the feet of Tadeo Allende who ran past the mark of Lucas Bartlett leaving him one-on-one with Luis Barraza, slotting the ball past Barraza who came off his line and into the lower right hand corner to give Miami the lead. 

D.C. nearly tied the game in the 50th minute, when a Gabriel Pirani through ball found Christian Benteke one-on-one with Ustari, but the Miami goalkeeper denied Benteke from tying up the game. 

D.C. would tie the game just two minutes later. Aaron Herrera and Servania played quick and go passes on the edge of the box. Servania would play a cross into the box to Benteke, who muscled his way off a Miami defender and headed the ball into the back of the net to score his 9th goal of the season and put things level early in the second half. 

Christian Benteke celebrates his 9th goal of the season. Photo Credit: D.C. United

“We played well without the ball, and we played well with the ball.” Said Weiler, “Now the content was good, but at the end, yeah, not the result that we wanted.”

Messi nearly had a chance to regain the lead for Miami seconds later, but his shot would hit the woodwork. The Argentine astro would soon leave his mark on the game.

In the 65th minute, Ian Fray laid the ball off to Jordi Alba. Alba would play a through ball to Messi inside the box. Messi, with a simple turn, settled the ball and settled his shot in the lower right corner of Barraza’s net to give Miami the lead once again.

D.C. had a chance to tie the game on a Caden Clark cross found João Peglow inside the box, but the Brazilian’s effort was stopped by Ustari. 

In the 70th minute, a Messi through ball found Mateo Silvetti inside the box. As Silvetti tried to round the goalkeeper, Barraza brought him down in the box, prompting the ref to call a penalty in favor of Inter Miami. It would be Silvetti who would take the penalty to open up his scoring account as a member of Miami. Still, Silvetti’s shot would hit the top of the crossbar, denying him of opening up his scoring account as a member of The Herons.

In the 85th minute, Messi would get his brace after Telasco Segovia laid the ball off to Sergio Busquets, who played a short pass to Messi, who took on Kye Rowles. Messi would shoot the ball from the top of the box, with the ball bending to the top corner of the net and away from a diving Barraza.

D.C. would pull one back in stoppage time as Benteke played a through ball to Jacob Murrell, who slotted the ball past Ustari to cut the deficit to one goal. 

“They have less freedom without the ball, but maybe they have a little bit more freedom with the ball offensively. But at the end, when you have the ball offensively, then you have to create something, you have to take some risk.” Weiler said, “ I believe we are better than we were before, which is why we are working together. So we try to get it. The more potential out of all players, individually and from the whole team.”

With this result, D.C. United remains in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points, while Inter Miami sits in 5th place with 52 points, tied with Orlando City, who occupy 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

D.C. will play host to Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Saturday evening, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 pm. 

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