A 2-1 Loss to Messi (and Miami) in Baltimore

(Welcome to our newest blogger, Francis Franch)

There are frustrating losses, and then there are nights that just don’t feel right from the start. Saturday’s “home” match against Inter Miami fell squarely into that category.

I made the trip up toward Baltimore early, and the atmosphere around the stadium said a lot before kickoff even happened. Pink and Barça Messi jerseys were everywhere. It didn’t feel like a D.C. United home match. It felt like an exhibition built around one player, which was understandable but strange nonetheless. 

Moving the game from Audi Field to M&T Bank Stadium was always going to hurt the home atmosphere and with that our chances of victory against the reigning MLS champs. Everyone knows why it happened. When Lionel Messi comes to town, the league and ownership see a chance to cash in with a bigger stadium and attendance. Columbus did something similar last season, moving their game against Miami over two hours away from their own city to the disappointment of their fans as well.

As is echoed in many DC United comment sections, Audi Field is our house and where this grand event should’ve occurred. It’s loud, tight, and built for the supporters who show up every week. Baltimore is not D.C., and the result was predictable. A stadium filled with pink for what was supposedly a United home match.

Messi fans themselves are not the problem. Many D.C. supporters appreciate watching the greatest player of all time. I am passionately one of them who has followed him since my youth. You can respect Messi and still bleed black and red. The issue is turning a home match into something that feels like a neutral-site event or worse a Miami home game.

It also comes at a strange time for the league. MLS is talking about major changes to align with the big boys in Europe like adjusting the calendar to align more with the global game, while other American leagues like the USL have approved changing to promotion and relegation in the coming years. Moments like this, chasing a payday instead of protecting supporter culture, make the league look like it still hasn’t figured out what it wants to be long term which is especially relevant with the home World Cup approaching this Summer.

On the field, D.C. also gave Messi and his countryman, Rodrigo De Paul far too much respect, especially in the first half. He was allowed far too much space, with defenders backing off and the midfield slow to close him down for their goals in the 17th and 27th minute respectively.

Look at what Orlando City, who have lost all three of their league games so far, did to him last week. They pressured him constantly and pushed Miami to the edge. We’ve even seen D.C. do it before ourselves. In the home opener against Philadelphia Union, as my colleague Jim remarked, United pressed aggressively and controlled the tempo from the start.

One player who clearly brought that intensity was Tai Baribo. The new signing now has two goals in his first three appearances and already looks like a real attacking threat. Just as noticeable was his frustration during the match. He was pushing for urgency and clearly demanding more from the team.

We saw that same passion in the opener when he scored against his former club and celebrated with raw emotion. That kind of fire is exactly what this team needs.

To their credit, the second half was a stronger performance. The workrate improved, the energy picked up, and the team finally started playing with more urgency with Baribo pulling one back in the 75th minute. 

Hopefully that response carries DC forward. Nights like this should motivate the group. The supporters will always bring the passion, and when the team returns to Audi Field on April 4th, there will be another chance to bring that energy back home.

Before that though, United will head on the road for the next match on March 14th against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

For those interested, DC's lineup:

Johnson in goal

Kurokawa, Rowles, Bartlett, Hefti in defense

Peglow, Servanai, Hopkins, Peltola, Pirani in midfield

Baribo at forward

Subs: Markovic for Servania (61st minute), Munteanu for Pirania (61st minute), Caden Clark for Hopkins (82nd minute), Murrell for Peltola (90+1 minute)