Play-off exit in the MLS is looming: Messi and Miami receive an equalizer
The eight-time world footballer Lionel Messi is threatened with a quick exit with Inter Miami in the MLS play-offs. After the opening win in the best-of-three series, the team from Florida had to admit defeat 1:2 (1:0) in the second game at Atlanta United with a goal in stoppage time. The decisive game will take place on the night of next Sunday (2 a.m. CET) in Miami, and the winner will advance to the semifinals of the Eastern Conference.
With veteran stars Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba in the starting line-up, Miami initially took the lead through Hector David Martinez (40th) in front of 68,455 spectators. The Irishman Derrick Williams (58′) managed to equalize after the break, before Xande Silva (90’+4) finished off a strong move by the hosts deep in stoppage time with a powerful shot into the left corner.
Messi’s team qualified for the play-offs as the best team in the main round of Major League Soccer (MLS). Before Inter, no club had ever scored 74 points.
Stützle spoils Grubauer’s return to the NHL goal
National ice hockey player Tim Stützle spoiled goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer’s return to the NHL goal of the Seattle Kraken. The 22-year-old scored the final goal in the Ottawa Senators’ 3-0 victory and set up Brady Tkachuk to make it 2-0. However, Grubauer was not on the ice when Stützle’s goal was scored; the Kraken tried to force the goal in the final phase with six field players.
Grubauer was last on the ice for the Kraken on October 22nd and has not played in four games since then. Grubauer has only won one of his five games so far and has always conceded at least two goals. The Kraken have won five of twelve games overall. Stützle’s two scorer points enabled the Senators to achieve their sixth win of the season in the eleventh game. The striker from Viersen has so far scored six goals and ten assists.
In the other German duel of the day, Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings won 2-1 against the Buffalo Sabers led by JJ Peterka. Neither Seider nor Peterka were directly involved in a hit.
Lukas Reichel, on the other hand, had an assist in the Chicago Blackhawks’ penalty shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings. Chicago turned the game around after being 2-0 down, and Reichel prepared the equalizer to make it 2-2. “We gained some momentum with the first goal. Then we found our game and thank God we won because we really needed it,” Reichel told the German Press Agency. Chicago had only won one of the previous six games.
NBA: Cleveland continues to be perfect – investigation against Embiid
The Cleveland Cavaliers have expanded their dream start in the NBA in dramatic fashion. The team from Ohio also won its seventh game of the season at 114:113 against the Milwaukee Bucks led by superstar Antetokounmpo. Donovan Mitchell secured the victory 0.3 seconds before the final siren. Overall, the shooting guard scored a strong 30 points.
The Cavs only need one win to equal the best start in franchise history. In 1976, Cleveland had eight wins at the start, the 2016 champions have never managed more. Antetokounmpo couldn’t prevent the Bucks’ fifth defeat in a row with 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, while Damian Lillard (41 points) also hit ten three-pointers. In the meantime, Milwaukee was ahead by 16 points.
According to media reports, an investigation has been initiated against star player Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers. After the game against the Memphis Grizzlies (107:124), the 2023 MVP is said to have pushed a journalist who had recently written a critical comment about Embiid.
“We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers locker room this evening and are conducting an investigation,” an NBA spokesman was quoted as saying by US media. Embiid, the Olympic champion in Paris, has not played in a game this season.
