MIAMI, Oct 5, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Missing Lionel Messi again, Inter Miami's
hopes of squeezing into the MLS playoffs suffered a body blow on Wednesday
with a 4-1 defeat to Chicago Fire.

The defeat leaves Miami next to bottom of the Eastern Conference and five
points off the last playoff spot with just three games remaining and their
destiny no longer in their own hands.

The prospect of seeing the Argentine World Cup winner in action drew a record
home crowd of 62,124 to Soldier Field in Chicago but with no Messi, it was
Chicago's own diminutive number ten who put on the show.

Swiss former Liverpool and Bayern Munich playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri scored
twice with his compatriot Maren Haile-Selassie also grabbing a brace.

Chicago's win strengthens their chances of making the post-season for the
first time since 2017, moving them up to eighth place.

All the action came in the second half with Shaqiri opening the scoring four
minutes after the interval, finishing off a fine passing move with a left-
foot shot at the back post.

Miami bounced back swiftly though with Josef Martinez converting a penalty
after a handball from Chicago defender Jonathan Dean.

Miami then had two great chances to take the lead but both Facundo Farias and
Benjamin Cremaschi put their shots wide from promising positions.

Chicago showed no such lenience in front of goal however, snatching the lead
in the 62nd minute when substitute Haile-Selassie slotted home after being
played in by Fabian Herbers.

Haile-Selassie struck again to make it 3-1 with Miami's back line slow to
react to a cross from the right from Ousmane Doumbia and then Shaqiri
completed the rout with a smart finish after he was put through by Gaston
Gimenez.

"It's beautiful to see Soldier Field packed full for soccer game and I hope
they're going to come more and more because we showed today how good we are
and the team spirit is here," said Shaqiri.

"We needed that win obviously and every game now is a final. We suffered of
course, we saw the quality of Inter Miami but we knew also they had some
problems in counter-attack. It was a perfect night for us," added the 31-
year-old.

Charlotte kept their post-season hopes alive with a 3-0 win over the East's
bottom club Toronto with two first-half penalties from Polish forward Karol
Swiderski.

Although the North Carolina side are in 13th place, they are just two points
behind Montreal, who occupy ninth place, the last playoff spot in the East.

The New York Red Bulls kept themselves in contention with a 2-1 win at
Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati.

Cincinnati had already secured the top seed in the playoffs and the home
field advantage that brings and having started with several key players on
the bench they fell behind to early goals from Frankle Amaya and Elias Monoel
before Luciano Acosta, on as a sub, got them back in the game with a 68th
minute penalty.

D.C United's playoff hopes faded further with Wayne Rooney's team suffering a
3-0 loss at Austin, a win which keeps the Texan side in contention for a
post-season berth in the West.