Leo Messi missed a Panenka-style penalty!
Chicago, US, Sep 13 (EFE).-
Leo Messi missed a Panenka-style penalty as Inter Miami were crushed 3-0 in their visit to Charlotte DC at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Israeli Idan Toklomati punished Messi’s miss with a hat trick and gave Charlotte its ninth consecutive victory in the MLS.
Inter Miami surrendered to the most in-form team in MLS on a night in which they were without Uruguayan Luis Suárez, who served the first of a three-match suspension for spitting at a member of the Seattle Sounders coaching staff in the Leagues Cup final.
The “Gunman” also received an additional six-match suspension, which he will have to serve in next year’s Leagues Cup.
Inter Miami had a chance to take the lead shortly before Toklomati made it 1-0 for Charlotte, but Messi attempted a Panenka that Croatian goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina was able to read.
Seconds later, Toklomati gave Charlotte the lead after an assist from Westwood.
The Israeli forward made it 2-0 just after halftime and completed his first career MLS hat trick with a penalty kick in the 84th minute.
He now has 11 goals on the season, and Charlotte recorded its ninth straight win, its longest single-season winning streak in MLS history since 2019.
Charlotte is third in the East, behind the Philadelphia Union, while Inter Miami is seventh, with 46 points. However, Javier Mascherano’s team is three points behind the Union. EFE am/pd
