When the Houston Dynamo learned that Lionel Messi did not travel with Inter Miami ahead of the teams’ game on Sunday, they proceeded with a now-familiar playbook. Just like Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps did in similar Messi-less situations, the team apologized to their ticketholders, then bargained with them.

“Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent,” the team said in a statement, before offering a free ticket to a subsequent Dynamo game to every fan in attendance.

It’s a move that can be read a couple ways. The more cynical among us may see it as cloying, unlikely to appease the fans that bought that ticket for a specific reason. Some may also see it as a little weak. A certain amount of risk is inherent to just about any ticket purchase for live sports – admission does not guarantee a win for the home team, nor does not guarantee that you’ll see everyone you thought you’d see. Is it unfortunate that Messi was withheld? Sure, but them’s the breaks, and outside of asking Inter Miami to telegraph their best player’s availability to all teams in advance of each game (not gonna happen), there really isn’t a way to avoid this type of situation.

Then there’s the more charitable view. More than likely, the fans that flooded Shell Energy Stadium did so at great cost to their time, and perhaps their wallet as well (tickets for the match were going for over $200 on resale sites as of Friday). There’s no denying that Messi is the league’s main attraction for people that haven’t engaged deeply with MLS or its teams before. By giving away tickets, the Dynamo at least give themselves a chance to turn a potentially negative fan experience into a positive one – and maybe gain a few repeat attendees in a market that sorely needs more of them (Not that the team themselves gave them much reason to return, having been smacked 4-1 by an Inter Miami squad who was better in every way on the night).

Wherever you fall on that spectrum, the fact that MLS teams now seemingly have a “sorry Messi isn’t here” playbook speaks not just to Messi’s immense fame and popularity, but also to the fact that many MLS teams’ local fanbases are still developing. If you feel compelled to give away your team’s games for free based on a competitor’s decision, then that doesn’t say much about your team, does it? AA

Wilfriend Zaha was given the Man of the Match crown for his performance. Photograph: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Wilfried Zaha’s uneven and irresistible debut

In Wilfried Zaha, Charlotte FC has a new king. Actually, he may be the club’s first king. Liel Abada is capable of great moments while forward Patrick Agyemang continues to develop, but do either of them have the game-breaking ability of the former Crystal Palace winger? No, not on the evidence of Saturday’s statement win over Atlanta United.

For the 45 minutes of his MLS debut, Zaha did very little game-breaking. The match was titled towards Atlanta who controlled possession and restricted the Ivorian. After halftime, Zaha showed why so many believe he could be a gamechanging addition to Dean Smith’s side, creating the opening goal before scoring one himself.

Smith will want even more out of Zaha. The winger had just 20 touches of the ball in the first half. The home team struggled to get him the ball quick enough to unsettle Atlanta who also found it too easy to move through the channel between Stian Gregersen and Miguel Almirón down Zaha’s side. On another day, Charlotte would have been behind at the half.

But on this particular day, Zaha made the difference and Charlotte FC, with their best-in-the-East defense, now have a player who can decide a match in an instant.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but Zaha can handle it. GR

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano will presumably miss some time with a non-contact injury suffered on Saturday. Photograph: Gregory Bull/AP

Chucky Lozano’s injury was both significant and predictable

Hirving “Chucky” Lozano is the guy for San Diego FC. Brought in to be the face of the expansion franchise, Lozano is undoubtedly the most famous and most decorated player to show up for year one in a city that borders his native Mexico.

While Andres Dreyer, Jasper Loffelsend and CJ Dos Santos may prove to be savvy acquisitions who win over the hearts of fans in America’s Finest City, they’re mostly unknowns for now. San Diego brought Lozano in to be the star and, just maybe, to replicate a bit of the magic Carlos Vela did when he arrived at Los Angeles FC as their own double-threat – an El Tri star that can both win games and sell tickets.

To win games or sell tickets, though, you need Lozano to stay on the field. So it was concerning when he left San Diego’s home opener – a 0-0 draw against St Louis – after just half an hour of play, thanks to what appeared to be a non-contact injury suffered while running down a loose ball.

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While concerning, it’s also not entirely surprising. Lozano always has played in a way that leads to him taking a beating. He was consistently the most fouled player in Liga MX when he started his career with Pachuca and regularly topped fouls received charts at later stops in the Netherlands and Italy. He’s paid the price as well, missing matches in December 2023 and January 2024 with a hamstring issue, an entire Gold Cup with Mexico after being victim of a bruising tackle in the opening match against Trinidad and Tobago in 2021, and other similar absences throughout his career. He’d hoped to return to the national team in March, but a call-up for the Nations League now could be at risk.

Other than the injury, which SDFC said it would evaluate Sunday but as of writing is yet to provide a public update, the team has had a good start, beating the defending champion LA Galaxy on the road the week before Saturday’s home opener.

SDFC general manager Tyler Heaps was asked several times in preseason about Lozano’s injury history and said the team was confident it would get a huge minutes load out of its star but also hoped to build depth to cover potential absences. That depth may have to show up far sooner than SDFC hoped. JA

Murrell celebrated with a home run swing, for some reason. Photograph: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Great goal, confusing celebration

When DC United needed a hero, Christian Benteke stepped up.

Wait, hold on a second, I’m getting new information.

When DC United needed a hero … Jacob Murrell stepped up?

In the 91st minute of DC’s clash with the Chicago Fire, a Benteke penalty miss looked to be the final twist in a contest featuring no shortage of unstable moments. There was DC’s inability to defend on set pieces, something that saw them hand two goals to big-money striker Hugo Cuypers. There was the injury to Fire defender Carlos Teran in warmups, which forced Gregg Berhalter to start Sam Rogers at center back, where he proceeded to look a half-step behind the pace for the entire match. Space, chances, and chaos abounded at Soldier Field. Defense (rest, set piece, or otherwise) was optional.

Given that, maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising that a 20-year-old with more appearances for Georgetown University than DC United managed to clean up Benteke’s mess with a miraculous 96th minute equalizing bicycle kick. But maybe I should have been surprised when he followed up that bike with a … home run celebration?

I still don’t get it. It’s Soldier Field, not Wrigley. But I sure do get one thing: Benteke should be buying Murrell a nice steak dinner the next chance he gets. JL