Anselmi after the defeat: Messi decided it.. and Al Ahly is our last chance
Porto's 2-1 loss to Inter Miami complicates its chances of qualifying for the Club World Cup.
Martín Anselmi, the head coach of Porto, expressed deep disappointment with his team’s lackluster performance during their 2-1 loss to Inter Miami in the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup group stage, currently taking place in the United States.
Inter Miami secured the victory thanks to the brilliance of Argentine star Lionel Messi, who continued to etch his name in gold by scoring the winning goal with a brilliantly executed free kick. The win earned Inter Miami three valuable points, bringing their total to 4, placing them second behind leaders Palmeiras. Meanwhile, Porto remains stuck on just one point, making their qualification scenario highly complicated going into the final round.
In his post-match comments, Anselmi voiced both sadness and criticism, saying:
"Lionel Messi still makes the difference in decisive moments. He helped his team control the match with relentless offensive pressure. As for us, we lacked focus and fighting spirit for most of the game. We also weren’t sharp enough in individual duels, and that cost us dearly."
He continued: "We were slow in reading the match and late in making tactical changes. By the time we intervened, it was already too late. Now, we need to put this game behind us and prepare with full force for our final match against Al Ahly — a match we must win, no excuses."
Porto’s chances of reaching the next round are now complicated. The team must beat Al Ahly in the final round and hope that Inter Miami defeats Palmeiras in order to claim a qualifying spot, with the group standings expected to remain tightly contested until the very last moment.
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