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Three Up, Three Down: Inter Miami 2, New York Red Bulls 0

The Herons snapped an 11-game Major League Soccer winless streak with a 2-0 win against the New York Red Bulls. Inter Heron picks three stars and three underperformers from the match in this installment of Three Up, Three Down.

By Ken Garner, Matthew Clark

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi accepts his game jersey Saturday after warming up to enter his first MLS regular season match.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi accepts his game jersey Saturday after warming up to enter his first MLS regular season match. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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Lionel Messi (B+)

[KEN] One play was enough to convince me Messi deserved the top player ranking but, over 33 minutes, Messi wasn't the dynamic gamechanger we saw in the first several of his matches wearing the Pink. He made a few errant passes trying to create the spectacular play and rationed his off-ball runs. Ideally, Martino will continue to limit Messi's minutes while trying to navigate this longshot playoffs chase.

[MATT] That pass was simply brilliant if you are La Familia and nasty if you aren't. I don't know that I would have put Messi in the top three performers from last night, if not for this pass.

That said, it did force New York's defense to chase the ball, which is exactly what we've been suggesting Inter Miami needs to do when Messi is on the pitch.

Here, it worked to perfection.

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