Good, Bad & Ugly: Messi, Noah Allen shine for Inter Miami in Leagues Cup win | OneFootball

Herons remain undefeated in 12 Leagues Cup matches at home

Atlético San Luis, the 33rd seed in the 36-team Leagues Cup, played attractive attacking football in sizable chunks of Wednesday's match against seventh-seeded Inter Miami, but converted just two of its 18 shots. The Herons had 10 fewer attempts but made them count in a 4-2 group stage win.

With the victory, Inter Miami improved to 11-0-1 in Leagues Cup home matches

Noah Allen had three assists and Lionel Messi, making his first start for Las Garzas since before the World Cup break, scored twice and earned an assist when Micael scored a header from Messi's corner kick in first-half stoppage time. Telasco Segovia had the Herons other goal.

Inter Miami played without striker Luis Suárez, who is suspended for six Leagues Cup matches for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Herons lost last year's final to Seattle, 3-0. Suárez had been Miami's most in-form player heading into the match, but his firepower wasn't needed Wednesday. Dániel Pintér, 19, started in the Uruguayan legend's place and finished a beautiful pass from Casemiro for what would have been his first MLS goal, but a VAR review showed that he was inches offside.

GOOD -- Allen. The 23-year-old Pembroke Pines native channeled his inner Jordi Alba against the Mexican side, serving up three first-half assists while pushing up high on the left wing. Before last night, he'd managed just 4 assists in his 3 1/2 years with the Herons. Allen is a dependable defender, splitting his playing time between center back and left wing back, but unlike his predecessor in the position, he's never been considered much of an offensive threat. Alba, one of the best wing backs of his generation, had 15 goals and 33 assists in 2 1/2 years for Las Garzas before retiring after last year's MLS Cup championship.

The Herons acquired Sergio Reguilón before this season to fill Alba's spot, but injuries have limited the Spaniard's effectiveness. Could Allen earn the starting position? No. When he's healthy, Reguilón is a much more polished player. But it's great to see Allen shine. And, if he continues to play like he did tonight -- he and Messi both earned 9.3 player ratings from FotMob -- who knows? He very well could find himself in the starting 11.

BAD -- The Herons' second half. Trailing 4-1, Los Atléticos came out on the front foot and scored their second goal in the 51st minute. For the rest of the match, San Luis enjoyed long spells of possession -- they had 55 percent of the ball during the match -- but struggled to break down Inter Miami's defense. The visitor's energetic pressing and counter pressing kept Las Garzas off balance and forced interim coach Guillermo Hoyos to replace center back Fricio Caicedo, Pintér, and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul in the 59th, 60th and 66th minutes, respectively. Heavy rains forced a weather delay in the 67th minute and, in the 84th minute, Mateo Silvetti suffered what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder.

UGLY -- Silvetti injury. The 20-year-old Argentine forward fell to the ground waving for medical help after a San Luis defender appeared to crash into Silvetti's left shoulder during a successful challenge. Silvetti was conscious and in obvious pain as medics briefly treated him on the field and helped him to the sideline, but the moment couldn't help but remind fans of Germán Berterame's being taken by ambulance to a hospital after suffering head and neck injuries last month in Montréal. After the match, Hoyos said Silvetti is sore, but should be able to play again soon.

NEXT UP -- The Herons will continue their quest for a second Leagues Cup against Monterrey on Saturday and Club León next Wednesday. Inter Miami won the competition in 2023.