On Saturday night in Chester, Pennsylvania, Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union will play, but two of the team’s biggest players—Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez—will not be present.
Prior to Copa America, Messi (Argentina) and Suarez (Uruguay) are both with their respective national sides as the reigning champions, Argentina and 2011 winners, Uruguay, are vying for a record 16th Copa America championship.
Miami’s performance (10-3-5, 35 points) has mostly depended on Messi and Suarez’s ability, as they have combined for 24 goals and 18 assists. The remaining players must perform despite the deadly attacking duo’s potential one-month absence as Miami attempts to keep onto its top spot in the Supporters’ Shield standings in the face of a fierce challenge.
“I think we’re a mature enough group to kind of say, ‘Hey, we’re still here to compete on our level and to win these games that we have coming up while the tournaments are going on, and then when we all reconvene for after the tournament for Leagues Cup and that last part of the MLS season, that’s when we really need to push,'” Julian Gressel, a Miami midfielder, told the Miami Herald
In the interim, Miami’s offense will be led by Leonardo Campana, who has four goals in 15 games.
The Union (4-4-8, 20 points) will be without their top scorer Daniel Gazdag, who plays for Hungary in the Euro 2024 competition, and are on a six-match home winless streak (0-4-2). They will also be missing Jack Elliott, who was issued a red card during the Union’s June 1 2-2 draw with CF Montreal.
Elliott’s red card was rescinded by the MLS disciplinary committee on Thursday, according to Union head coach Jim Curtin’s unsuccessful appeal.
Quinn Sullivan and younger players like David Vazquez and Jeremy Rafanello could fill the voids created by the Union’s reduced roster, according to Curtin, though those choices will depend on the opponents and formations Philadelphia will play.
“This is an opportunity for guys to step up and we need them to be ready, and the three names I said should be (available for selection on Saturday) and will be deserving and you could see us use them all,” said Curtin.
Additionally, Curtin reports that Julian Carranza, the Union’s second-leading scorer with six goals, will be available after sitting out the previous two games due to an ankle ailment.
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