MESSI"LESS" INTER MIAMI GO 8 POINTS CLEAR IN EASTERN CONFERENCE OF MLS

Inter Miami FC has opened an 8-point gap in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer(MLS) in the USA after beating Cincinnati FC by 2 goals to nil. The team was without their Talisman and Captain, Lionel Messi who was not available for Saturday’s Inter Miami match at home against FC Cincinnati, where his club won to become the first MLS team to clinch a playoff spot this season. Luis Suárez, Messi's former Barcelona Teammate, bagged a brace in the opening six minutes to put Inter Miami points clear at the top of MLS' Eastern Conference. Luis Suárez scored 30 seconds into the match( the fastest goal in Inter Miami FC's history) and again in the sixth minute which was all Inter Miami needed to go 8 points clear of the. Eastern Conference of the league. The good news is that Messi has made a significant improvement in his recovery from a right ankle ligament injury this week, returning to the field for individual work. The next step would be a return to practice with teammates, in a process Inter Miami won’t rush. Inter Miami Coach, Tata Martino is confident that Messi will return eventually while the MLS season heads into its final stretch before the MLS playoffs. "The work is planned by the medical part with the physical trainers. But yes, he returns before the end of the regular season," Martino said of Messi, the two-time Copa America champion. Messi has already missed his sixth game since suffering the ankle injury during the Copa America final on July 14 in Miami, and his 12th game since he left Inter Miami to join Argentina for the tournament. Overall, he’s played in just 15 of 33 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami this season. Messi also played in five of six Copa America matches with Argentina, sitting out one match to rest a groin injury. Story By Collins Boateng( Cabman) for VOV News