Major League Soccer joint leading scorer Sam Surridge of Nashville SC scored in the first half to help the MLS All-Stars to a 3-1 victory over their Liga MX foes despite the absence of Lionel Messi in the All-Star Game on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas.
The Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo added the eventual winner early in the second half, and the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White provided late insurance for MLS, which won for the third time in four All-Star Games played in this format since 2021.
Tijuana’s 16-year-old Gilberto Mora pulled a goal back later in the second half for Liga MX and became the youngest goal-scorer in the event’s history. Earlier this month, he became the youngest player ever to win a senior continental international title as part of Mexico’s CONCACAF Gold Cup championship squad.
Surridge and Inter Miami’s Messi each have 18 league goals. It was uncertain all week whether Messi would play on Wednesday, but the 38-year-old, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did not appear. His Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, also missed the exhibition.
Per MLS rules, Messi and Alba would face a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game, which would see them miss a home match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. However, MLS commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday that no decision on suspensions had been made.
Surridge opened the scoring in the 28th minute on a chance created by Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, who beat the Liga MX defense with his pace but saw his initial effort denied by Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon.
Bouanga reached the rebound, then bent in a diagonal cross toward the 6-yard box, where Surridge met it with a downward header that beat Malagon.
Baribo, who has 14 regular-season goals this year, four behind Messi and Surridge in the MLS Golden Boot race, doubled the advantage in the 51st minute. He reached a cross from the left by Columbus’ Diego Rossi and beat Cruz Azul goalie Kevin Mier from about 15 yards out.
Mora pulled a goal back in the 64th minute, but White made sure of the MLS win in the 80th minute.
The New England Revolution’s Carles Gil was exceptional in setting up the attack for the final goal, maneuvering out of traffic at midfield before playing in the San Jose Earthquakes’ Cristian Espinoza down the left. The Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel provided the final pass for White’s tap-in from close range.
–Field Level Media
