"Our opponent was better than us" - Tata Martino reacts as Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami lose 6-1 to Cincinnati in MLS

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has accused his team's defence of regressing following their heavy 6-1 MLS defeat to FC Cincinnati on Saturday (July 6). The Herons led the Eastern Conference before falling to a heavy defeat to their Ohio-based opponents.

The loss was the first suffered by Miami since their Argentine talisman departed for 2024 Copa America with the Albiceleste.

“We had a period early in the season where we were vulnerable in back. We started to fix that.

"Tprevious five or six games, we had done a solid job defending, but this game, we reverted defensively to how we played early in the season. Our opponent was better than us."

Martino concluded:

“We must take note of this. Cincinnati is one of the top three teams in the league. We are still not there despite our good results and performances. We have to keep working and hoping in the final part of the season we can improve with our full roster.”

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will hope to return to winning ways in their next MLS game when they face ninth-place Toronto FC at the Chase Stadium on July 18.

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Inter Miami end MLS winning streak since Lionel Messi's departure

Inter Miami ended their four-match winning streak against FC Cincinnati since Lionel Messi left for the 2024 Copa America. The Herons fell to a disappointing 6-1 defeat that saw them relinquish their hold atop the MLS Eastern Conference.

The Ohio-based side took the lead after 10 minutes through Yuya Kubo after being fed the ball by Luca Orellano. Their lead lasted 11 minutes before the visitors drew level through Serhiy Kryvstov, who headed in a Julian Gressel cross in the 21st minute.

Luciano Acosta restored the lead for Cincinnati after getting the ball from Obinna Nwobodo in the 36th minute. Acosta went from scorer to provider after his corner found Pavel Bucha two minutes later to make it 3-1 in the 38th minute. Yamil Asad made it 4-1 just before half-time after Sergio Busquets was pickpocketed in the Inter Miami midfield in the dying minutes of the first half.

Orellano and Kubo struck up their connection in the second half again, repeating their trick from the first half as the Japanese striker bagged a brace in the 57th minute to make it 5-1. Busquets was sent off for dissent in the 62nd minute as a tough day at the office for the Herons got worse.

FC Cincinnati wrapped up the scoring in the 72nd minute after Asad set up youngster Gerardo Valenzuela to make it 6-1.

Inter Miami will hope to put the embarrassing defeat behind them quickly and get back to winning ways against FC Toronto. The match will be their last MLS fixture before Lionel Messi returns from international duty.