Messi's Absence Haunts Inter Miami as D.C. United Forces Frustrating 1-1 Stalemate
Inter Miami traveled to face D.C. United expecting to secure a comfortable victory, but they surrendered two crucial points that may prove costly down the road.
Facing a side currently on an 11-game winless streak should have been manageable, yet the Herons were without Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, making it difficult to capitalize against inferior opposition.
A heavily rotated lineup watched D.C.'s Jackson Hopkins find the net in the 13th minute, with Miami failing to generate meaningful chances until Baltasar Rodríguez leveled the score in the 64th minute.
D.C. will certainly be pleased with the point and extending their streak without a defeat for another week, while Miami may rue those lost points in their pursuit of consecutive Supporters' Shield crowns.
Following the stalemate, the Herons slipped to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings and now sit closer to the playoff elimination line than the conference summit.
Inter Miami Squad Rotation Exposes Roster Limitations
During his initial period managing Inter Miami, head coach Javier Mascherano faced significant criticism for his reluctance to rotate players and his over-reliance on veteran stars. Nevertheless, recent weeks have demonstrated his increased willingness to make changes and manage the squad effectively, as the team has dealt with a packed fixture list including the FIFA Club World Cup, Leagues Cup, and MLS regular season commitments.
This approach is fundamentally positive. However, much of the recent rotation has been necessity-driven, with Messi unavailable for two of the past three fixtures, during which Miami has found it challenging to generate attacking threats, despite managing to avoid defeats.
Against D.C., the rotation reached new extremes, with players like Ryan Sailor getting significant minutes after accumulating fewer than 10 MLS minutes all season, and midfielder Tadeo Allende being deployed as a forward.
The emphasis was clearly on Wednesday's Leagues Cup semifinal versus Orlando City SC, but the squad's shallow depth was apparent at Audi Field. Rotation has its merits, but when a midfielder must start as a striker due to limited alternatives, it reveals roster construction flaws—an issue that was glaringly obvious on Saturday.
Baltasar Rodríguez Provides Impact
Baltasar Rodríguez endured a sluggish beginning to his Inter Miami tenure, but delivered one of his most impactful performances against D.C. United, netting the equalizer shortly after being introduced.
While the 22-year-old Argentine has struggled to earn regular playing time under Mascherano, he has delivered meaningful contributions across his seven appearances this campaign, with his strike against D.C. marking his second goal involvement of the season.
Operating in attacking midfield, he has faced competition for minutes from Mascherano's preferred options, as Messi, Luis Suárez, and other established players have occupied his natural positions. However, his substitute display against D.C. could attract attention, not just for his spectacular goal, but also for his three successful dribbles and 33 touches during his 36-minute cameo.
Simultaneously, Rodríguez may see increased opportunities through the regular season's conclusion, given Miami's demanding fixture schedule with nine remaining MLS games, plus Leagues Cup semifinals and either the third-place playoff or final.
Leagues Cup Takes Priority Over Supporters' Shield
Inter Miami possess games in hand over every Eastern Conference rival, but claiming the conference crown and defending their Supporters' Shield title may prove difficult following the points lost against D.C.
With 46 points accumulated, Miami trail MLS and Eastern Conference pacesetters Philadelphia Union by eight points, after the Union reached 54 points with their victory over Chicago Fire FC on Saturday. Miami now have nine matches to bridge that deficit, while the Union have six regular season fixtures remaining and face a less demanding schedule.
Examining points-per-game averages, Miami also rank third in the Eastern Conference, leaving minimal margin for error if they hope to repeat as the league's premier regular season performers entering the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Nevertheless, the organization has likely emphasized capturing the Leagues Cup and securing a Concacaf Champions Cup spot through that tournament, rather than achieving optimal playoff positioning—a strategy that failed them in their first-round elimination to eighth-seeded Atlanta United in 2024.
While the draw will sting and could represent a pivotal moment in the Supporters' Shield race and conference leadership battle, claiming the Leagues Cup would constitute a meaningful and valuable accomplishment for the franchise.
That encounter with Orlando City SC kicks off Wednesday at 7:30 pm ET.