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Three Up, Three Down: Busquets’ quick thinking leads to Farías’ winning goal against Sporting Kansas City

The best play of Saturday’s game between Inter Miami and Sporting Kansas City wasn’t a shot, an assist or a save; it was an idea. While Sporting players argued a handball called against KC, midfielder Sergio Busquets took the ball from the referee and booted the quick free kick downfield to wide open attacker Facundo Farias, who beat Sporting Keeper Tim Melia with what would be the match-winning goal in La Rosanegra’s 3-2 decision. No Messi? No problem.

By Ken Garner, Matthew Clark

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets passes the ball away from Sporting KC players during the Herons’ 3-2 win Saturday.
Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets passes the ball away from Sporting KC players during the Herons’ 3-2 win Saturday. / Cliff Hawkins/GettyImages
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Lionel Messi, Benjamin Cremaschi, Robert Taylor, Josef Martinez, Diego Gomez, David Ruiz, Edison Azcona and Sergii Kryvtsov all were missing Saturday, away on international duty, when Inter Miami hosted Sporting Kansas City.

So much of the conversation before Saturday's had to do with Messi's absence: Could the Herons win without Messi? How will the Herons manage without Messi? How could Major League Soccer schedule matches during FIFA's international break creating situations like the one faced by Inter Miami and Messi?

OK, so no one can replace Lionel Messi. But too many pundits forgot several key points: Gerardo Martino is a very good coach who knows how to use the players at his disposal; Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are generational players in their own right; Tomas Aviles and Facundo Farias are highly regarded young South American players for a reason; DRV PNK Stadium is becoming an Inter Miami fortress...and did I mention Sergio Busquets is pretty good?

Each week, site co-expert Matt Clark and I choose three players who had the most positive -- and negative -- impacts for Inter Miami and offer our thoughts. Sergio Busquets earns this week's top nod.

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