Inter Miami player ratings vs. CF Montreal: Rough watch for Lionel Messi! Herons can't cope without their stars as rotated XI succumbs to chaos

Sunday was always going to be a grind for Inter Miami, and a quick look at the teamsheet would tell you that. No Luis Suarez or Sergio Busquets in the XI, no Lionel Messi in the squad at all... this wasn't the Inter Miami team that fans have come to expect.

Both ex-Barcelona stars available did come off the bench though, while Messi, however, could only watch on from the stands as his side couldn't quite survive their own rotations in what ended as a frustrating 3-2 loss to CF Montreal.

In the end, Miami's defense let them down - again. Disastrous defending led to Fernando Alvarez's opener, an easy header from a corner kick. Another set piece ended in a goal for Matias Coccaro, while a pure lack of tracking back was what led to Sunusi Ibrahim scoring Montreal's third.

On the Herons' side, there were goals from Leonardo Campana and Jordi Alba, two really clean finishes. They won't matter, though, as Montreal were the team that left with all three points. With the CONCACAF Champions Cup on their minds, Miami made the decision to rotate, and there's a risk you run when you choose to change things, particularly when you go into it all without a certain legendary Argentine.

If they get past Nashville SC on Wednesday, it'll all be worth it, but until then, this defeat will sting a bit for a team that had their opportunities to escape this match with something more.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium...

Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season Pass

Stream now