USA TODAY’s Jordan Mendoza wrote after Inter Miami’s win over the Red Bulls, head coach Tara Martino told reporters his team “will have to get used to winning without” Lionel Messi, as he “will miss at least three games this season due to his national team duties.” Martino said, “Leo is gonna miss at least three games. He's gonna get called up by his national team and others too. We know that the team has to continue to win without them at times." Martino “didn't specify which games Messi will miss,” or if he will “miss games due to rest, but it will serve as a blow to the people spending loads of money for the chance to see him play.” Messi could “miss any of the next four MLS matchups” as he “will be with the Argentina national team for World Cup qualifiers" (USA TODAY, 8/27).
CAUSE WORTH WAITNG FOR: In Sacramento, Joe Davidson wrote the fun on Saturday night for USL club Sacramento Republic FC's 10th anniversary celebration started before enthusiasts "packed into venerable Hughes Stadium for a USL match against Orange County FC.” It was “equal parts carnival, good cheer and intense soccer action” with Orange County FC winning 2-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 20,231. The only way any more people “could have squeezed in was if they sat on each other’s shoulders.” Fans “generally didn’t mind the traffic and long lines for food or restrooms” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 8/27).
