Three Up, Three Down: Who shined, who didn’t as Cincinnati ends Inter Miami’s playoff hopes

Five teams remain alive in the quest for the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots, but Inter Miami is not among them. A 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati paired with wins by Charlotte, Montreal and New York Red Bulls eliminated the Herons.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi signs a young fan’s jersey after he was caught running onto the pitch Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi signs a young fan’s jersey after he was caught running onto the pitch Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Miami’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati last night was particularly frustrating because the Herons played fairly well against the Orange & Blue. If even one of the shots Thomas Aviles, Benjamin Cremaschi or Josef Martinez slammed into the woodwork in the first half had found the inside of the net instead, the result may have been quite different. But, Alvaro Barreal struck in the 78th minute for the Supporters’ Shield winners and the exhausted Herons never mounted a serious threat, despite Messi’s playing most of the second half.

Each week, site co-expert Matt Clark and I choose Three Up and Three Down, six players who we believe had the greatest and least impacts for Inter Miami. Here we go: