By MARK ROSNER The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas — Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and the MLS team defeated its Liga MX peers, 3-1, in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night while playing without Lionel Messi.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team’s next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star Game.
“Messi’s the greatest,” MLS coach Nico Estévez said. “Playing with him and coaching him would be something amazing. But we have to show respect for the guys that showed up today. They did great. It’s a special week, a unique event. Not everyone can enjoy this. I’m fortunate.”
Liga MX’s James Rodríguez also chose not to play in the game played in front of more than 20,000 fans at Q2 Stadium.
MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won, 4-1, in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior.
Messi has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. He missed the game last year with an injury. Messi is currently tied with Nashville’s Surridge for the MLS lead in goals with 18.
Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute.
The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge.
Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagón and Austin FC’s Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes.
MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal.
Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box.
“We had moments when we played good soccer,” Liga MX coach André Jardine said.
Liga MX’s bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute.
White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute.
Baribo ranks fourth in MLS with 14 goals and White has scored 11 as they chase Messi and Surridge.
“They are competitive,” Estévez said. “One scores and the other says ‘I have to score.’ Brian in the end said ‘I have to score.’”
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MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. The competition features a new format, with all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 from MLS competing. Last year all 47 clubs from the two leagues were included.
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