In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

(FILES) Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi gives a thumbs-up during the friendly football match between Peru's Alianza Lima and the US' Inter Miami at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima on January 24, 2026. (Photo by Connie FRANCE / AFP)

Asharq Al Awsat

09:07-14 May 2026 AD ـ 28 Thul-Qi’dah 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

09:07-14 May 2026 AD ـ 28 Thul-Qi’dah 1447 AH

In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

Lionel Messi scored twice and had a hand in two others as Inter Miami fought back to beat FC Cincinnati 5-3 away in the MLS on Wednesday.

With the World Cup in North America less than a month away, Argentina captain Messi is in excellent form, AFP said.

He has 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season, Miami's latest victory boosting them into second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a fortuitous rebound off a poor clearance by Matt Miazga.

It was 1-1 at half-time after Kevin Denkey's 41st-minute penalty, then Pavel Bucha scored from close range to put the hosts 2-1 up soon after the break.

Messi struck again in the 55th minute, finishing off a flowing Miami attack with a left-footed shot from a cross by Rodrigo De Paul.

Cincinnati's Brazilian playmaker Evander put the hosts back in front again with a blast from outside the box in the 64th minute, his seventh goal in six matches.

But Messi set up a goal for young fellow Argentine Mateo Silvetti in the 79th minute, with Mexico international German Berterame scoring again for 4-3.

Messi forced the final goal in the 89th minute.

The 38-year-old launched himself at a cross from Silvetti and struck it with his right foot, the ball crashing off the post and deflecting in off goalkeeper Roman Celentano for an own goal.

Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos was full of praise for his side.

"What they did today was brilliant, against a tough team and on a difficult pitch," he said.

"It’s very hard to play here. It’s clear they’re not here to stroll around MLS.

"They're here to play, to give everything, and to show the world that football is played here too."

He added: "We’re leaving very happy.

"We were able to play football at a very high level."

Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

Ronald Koeman, head coach of Netherlands, speaks during a press conference in Monterrey, Mexico, 28 June 2026. (EPA)

07:33-30 June 2026 AD ـ 15 Muharram 1448 AH

Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

Ronald Koeman, head coach of Netherlands, speaks during a press conference in Monterrey, Mexico, 28 June 2026. (EPA)

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said ‌they went with a more defensive approach against Morocco to give them a better chance of winning rather than out of any fear of their opponents, after his side were eliminated from the World Cup on Monday.

Koeman made no apologies for fielding five defenders, even if he expects a torrent of criticism in the wake of their 3-2 shootout defeat following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Koeman, who has previously had to deal with disapproval after diverting from the traditional “Dutch school” of attacking football, felt playing with five at the back was the ‌right strategy to ‌overcome the North Africans.

“With this defensive approach, we ‌gave ⁠away much less ⁠than we did during the (group) matches," said the coach, who added he would decide on his future with the side after reflecting on the team’s elimination.

"That was positive, but also we were less offensive.

“You can think of the tactics whatever you like, but we gave away much less against a team much stronger than Sweden and Tunisia. And if ⁠I had to do it again, I would ‌do it the same way again.

“I also ‌know that if Morocco hadn’t equalized with that late goal, there would ‌be all sorts of compliments for me as the Dutch coach, ‌but now, probably, I'm going to be scolded for the fact that I chose five defenders, but once again, I believe it was necessary.”

Koeman said he had discussed the approach with his players, and they had agreed.

“You will ‌criticize me, and that's your right, but you watch football from the sidelines,” he told reporters.

“I'm with ⁠the team. I ⁠knew what needed to be improved. This is how I improved it. And once again, if I had to do it again, I would have done exactly the same.

“It was not about being afraid. That's not what it was about at all. Why afraid? I mean, we had three strikers on the field,” he added in a testy exchange.

“This is about a better defensive position, not out of fear, but based on an analysis of the opposition, and we can keep discussing this until tomorrow evening.

"You have your opinion, with all due respect, that's fine. But I have a different view,” Koeman added.

Morocco advanced to a last-16 meeting with Canada in Houston on Saturday.

Sports

Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 32 - Netherlands v Morocco - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 29, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Bilal El Khannouss celebrate after the match as Morocco qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. (Reuters)

07:11-30 June 2026 AD ـ 15 Muharram 1448 AH

Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his team is primed to make a deep run at the World Cup, declaring that the Atlas Lions could be "unstoppable" if they play to their potential.

The Moroccans, beaten semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup, advanced to the last 16 on Monday after winning a thrilling battle with the Netherlands on penalties in Monterrey.

It was another stylish display by the African champions, who dominated for long periods in a match that finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Ouahbi said Moroccan football is now reaping the benefits of the 2022 team's groundbreaking exploits in becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

"The World Cup in Qatar changed the mentality of the Morocco team, and I'm well placed to speak about this," said Ouahbi, who last year coached Morocco to a momentous victory at the Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Morocco forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi celebrates with fans after winning in the shootout during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between the Netherlands and Morocco at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026. (AFP)

"Moroccan players in Morocco believe in themselves, the supporters, the fans believe in us as well. It's so important. They're demanding, but it's because they know just how far we can go," he said.

Morocco face co-hosts Canada in the last 16, with a potential quarter-final meeting with France looming on the horizon.

Ouahbi said there would be no question of complacency against Canada.

"We know that it's game after game, and people think that it's kept to be easy for us, it's going to be a walk in the park for Morocco, which is not the case. Canada is a team that is going to be difficult for us."

But Ouahbi said Morocco could go even further than the 2022 team if they fired on all cylinders.

"What we need to be telling ourselves is no one can stop us," he said. "We're unstoppable if we play the football that we know how to play.

The Moroccan team starts to celebrate after winning on penalty kicks the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP)

"But nobody is unbeatable. And I tell my guys that as well. If we get things wrong, we'll go home, and we need to ensure that we have all the tools that we're using, the tools in our arsenal to go as far as we can, and that's the mentality that we want all of our players in Morocco to have."

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman meanwhile said Morocco's emergence reflected the quality of African football.

"It's very clear watching this World Cup that African teams have greatly improved in tactical sense, and also in the way they play their matches," Koeman said.

"Morocco is the country that, in terms of talents, really generates good players, young players that continue to join the major clubs in Europe. It's not without a reason why they have a higher ranking than the Netherlands."

Sports

Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

Paraguay's head coach Gustavo Alfaro celebrates with his players after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match Germany against Paraguay, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 29 June 2026. EPA/GREG COOPER

Asharq Al Awsat

05:50-30 June 2026 AD ـ 15 Muharram 1448 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

05:50-30 June 2026 AD ـ 15 Muharram 1448 AH

Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

Paraguay's players have turned themselves into football legends by defeating Germany in the World Cup on Monday, coach Gustavo Alfaro said.

"We never believe that we are beaten," Alfaro told reporters after his team's penalty shootout victory. "Twenty-six warriors went out there and they came back as legends."

The Argentine coach had come under criticism after Paraguay lost their opener 4-1 to co-hosts the United States, and scored only one more goal in their other two group matches.

However, they squeezed into the ⁠knockout rounds and ⁠then stunned Germany 4-3 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 over 120 minutes, handing the four-time champions their first-ever World Cup shootout defeat.

Alfaro said the heavy defeat by the United States had paved the way for Monday's historic win.

"If we had not learned from ⁠the loss, we would not have been prepared for this match," Reuters quoted him as saying. "I told the players that we have lived through an epic evening."

Paraguay opened the scoring against the run of play in the 42nd minute with a Julio Enciso header before Kai Havertz equalized in the 54th minute.

The South Americans then dug in, surviving a disallowed German goal and hanging on for penalties.

Jose Canale hammered home the winning kick, but only after two of ⁠his teammates ⁠failed to convert theirs.

"As things always are with us, we don't do things without suffering," Alfaro said, adding a special tribute for Canale whose professional career has been marked by loan spells with clubs in Paraguay, Argentina and Mexico.

"Canale is one of life's champions because he has had to go through a lot of adversity," Alfaro said. "A night like this is one of the gifts that life can give you. It's divine justice."

Paraguay will face either France or Sweden in the round of 16 on July 4.

In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

In-form Messi Hits Brace as Miami Win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

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Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

Koeman Defends Defensive Approach After Netherlands Exit World Cup

Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Morocco ‘Unstoppable’ Says Coach After Netherlands Thriller

Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

Coach: Paraguay's Players Are Now Legends after Shootout Win over Germany

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