Booing In Vancouver... Where Is Messi?

Once it was announced that Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets would not travel with Inter Miami to attend the club's match in Vancouver, fans who had paid exorbitant prices and traveled long distances to attend the match were disappointed. But once match day arrived and they had some time to digest that disappointment, the questions went to how would it all unfold inside BC Place? As soon as the match started and Inter Miami took possession of the ball, boos rang out in the stadium, followed by a chant that began at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago and continued in Atlanta last year: “Where is Messi?” (Answer: He was in Fort Lauderdale watching his son Thiago play for the Miami academy with Luis Suarez by his side) Fans in Vancouver chant: “Where is Messi?” But there were also signs, including one showing how much some fans had spent to attend the match. Another noted that some fans were happy to see “mini Messi,” Vancouver player Ryan Gould. As for others in attendance, they were just happy to see another famous Miami face: goalkeeper Yacine Chico. Inter Miami led 2-0 in the first hour of the game even without three of their stars, but Gould converted a penalty kick to give the Vancouver fans something to cheer about in the 72nd minute. The hosts threatened to equalize until the end, providing an entertaining match for the league's record attendance. The American audience reached 51,032, but Miami held on to win 2-1 even without Messi, setting a record during the NBA era. With the win, Miami still has the best record in the NBA and extends its unbeaten streak to 10 straight games.