Three days after loss in Vancouver, Inter Miami host FC Dallas

MADRID: After a long, unsuccessful trip, Inter Miami return home to host FC Dallas in MLS play on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Inter Miami (5-0-3, 18 points) are the league’s lone unbeaten team after a 1-0 road triumph against Columbus last Sunday in Cleveland.

But Miami suffered a 2-0 loss Thursday at Vancouver in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.

FC Dallas (3-3-3, 12 points) seek their first win since March 29. Dallas is coming off a scoreless draw with Minnesota on April 19 and has picked up only two points in the MLS standings over its last three league matches.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have continued to be in the lineup lately. But Miami has scored only one goal in its past three matches across all competitions.

“After a loss like this, the first responsibility is with me,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after Thursday’s defeat in British Columbia.

“But I still believe in this team and we are going to find a way to play a good game in Miami and try to come back. We have nothing to lose.”

FC Dallas have not faced Miami since a Round of 16 match in the 2023 Leagues Cup, which ended with the Herons winning in penalty kicks.

Petar Musa still leads Dallas statistically with three goals and three assists, but he has not played since April 12 versus Seattle.

Dallas hasn’t won in nearly a month, but has gone unbeaten in its five road matches (2-0-3) this season. Only Miami, Columbus and Vancouver also have gone unbeaten on the road.

FC Dallas have had to juggle their roster due to injuries. Dutch-born Nigerian center back Osaze Urhoghide is one of three players to start every match for Dallas this season and leads the club in minutes (810). Urhoghide looks forward to potentially facing Messi and Suarez.

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“I’ve always admired both players, and I’m excited to face them,” Urhoghide said this week. “I plan to give it my all and make this game one of my most memorable ones.”