Messi's Benched Presence Spurs Discontent in Hong Kong Friendly
The much-anticipated Messi appearance in Hong Kong took an unexpected turn as the Argentina superstar, nursing a hamstring strain, remained on the bench throughout Inter Miami's pre-season friendly. The near-capacity crowd, who had paid a significant amount to witness their hero, expressed frustration and disappointment with boos and chants of "We want Messi" during the second half. The discontent grew in the final 10 minutes when it became clear that Messi would not make even a brief appearance. The boos reached a crescendo at the final whistle, especially after Luis Suarez, another high-profile player, also did not play due to a knee injury.
Miami co-owner David Beckham faced the wrath of the crowd as he tried to thank them "for their incredible support," but the boos drowned out his words, accompanied by thumbs-down gestures from fans. The disappointment was palpable, and the frustration was directed at the absence of both Messi and Suarez from the game.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino addressed the disappointment in a post-match statement, explaining that the club's medical team had made the decision after assessing Messi's condition on Sunday morning. Martino acknowledged the fans' disappointment and apologized, expressing the team's understanding of their frustration. He emphasized the desire to see Messi and Suarez on the field but highlighted the risks associated with their potential participation.
Messi, who played only six minutes in Miami's previous match in Saudi Arabia, faces a race against time to recover from his injury before the new MLS season begins on February 21. The bitter end to the Hong Kong pre-season friendly marked the conclusion of days filled with "Messi mania" in the lead-up to the match. Thousands had turned up to watch Messi train, and the team hotel faced a surge of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
Despite the disappointment, Miami secured a 4-1 win against a Hong Kong select XI. Robert Taylor opened the scoring for the MLS side with a right-foot curling shot, followed by a goal from Hong Kong's Henri Anier to level the score. Miami regained the lead in the second half with goals from Lawson Sunderland and Leonardo Campana. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Miami's other former Barcelona stars, made a belated appearance from the bench.
The win marked a positive note for Miami, breaking a streak of four winless matches on their pre-season tour. The team will now head to Japan for a friendly against Vissel Kobe before returning to the United States.
In summary, the much-anticipated Messi appearance in Hong Kong turned into a disappointment for fans as the football superstar, along with Luis Suarez, remained benched due to injuries. The frustration of the crowd manifested in boos and chants during the game, leading to a bitter end to the pre-season friendly. Despite the absence of key players, Miami secured a 4-1 win, providing a silver lining to an otherwise disappointing spectacle.
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By- Sahiba Suri
By: Sahiba Suri
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