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Victor Wanyama will be hoping to get his first start of the season when CF Montreal face a daunting task away to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez-led Inter Miami in the MLS.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama will be hoping to be involved as CF Montreal face a daunting task away to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez-led Inter Miami on Monday morning.
Wanyama has made just one substitute appearance in Montreal’s two opening matches of the new MLS season, having come off the bench in their 2-1 win away to FC Dallas last weekend. He was an unused substitute in the MLS opener in the visit to Orlando City which ended goalless.
The Kenyan international was hoping for better fortunes under new coach Laurent Courtois after becoming a bench warmer in the second half of last season during the reign of his predecessor Hernan Losada.
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13:31 - 10.03.2024
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The Harambee Stars left back created numerous chances from the left flank which were not capitalised on during their 1-1 draw with Puszcza that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.
However, that is yet to change but a crack at the big game against star-studded Miami, plus a good performance, might change all that.
It will not be a walk in the park for Courtois’ men who are playing the third of their six opening games away as Miami are off a 5-0 thrashing of Orlando when both Messi and Suarez scored twice.
Courtois admits the task at hand is tough but has confidence in his side’s good start to the season.
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STARS ABROAD Wanyama makes first MLS appearance of the season as FC Monteral overcome Dallas
Wanyama, who has become increasingly peripheral in Canada in recent months, made his first MLS appearance of the season on Sunday morning.
“The only nervousness I have, is like when your children go to school for their first day: are they going to be able to be themselves? That’s all,” the first-year CF Montreal head coach explained.
“I prepare our players regardless of the opponent. I know it’s special, it’s not trivial: it’s Messi,” Courtois said. “We know who it is in front of us.
“We are playing against the biggest team in the league. I just want the guys to go into the game half having fun, half thinking that there’s something to do regardless.”
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The visit to South Florida marks Inter Miami’s second clash with Canadian opposition in the Messi era and the return of Josef Martínez. The Venezuelan was the first of Miami’s star signings last year, long before anyone realised David Beckham could actually lure Lionel Messi and his Barcelona Boys club to MLS.
Fresh off scoring the match-winning goal in Dallas last weekend, Martínez will be out to show Miami that he has plenty left in the tank and should’ve stuck around. Now, the Venezuelan is one part of Courtois’ attack, which have turned heads early in the season with a win in Dallas and a season-opening draw in Orlando two weeks ago.
“We are playing very well, I think,” veteran captain Samuel Piette said on Friday. “And we are very far from topping out at the potential we have.”
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11:06 - 03.03.2024
STARS ABROAD Kenyan duo watch helplessly as Messi, Suarez-inspired Inter Miami inflict misery on Orlando City in MLS clash
Messi and Suarez both netted braces as Inter Miami thrashed Orlando, with Harambee Stars defender Nabi Kibunguchi and Kenyan-born defender Abdi Salim watching from the sidelines.
Courtois has preferred a back three with two defensive midfielders and as many attack-minded men behind striker Matias Coccaro but with one of them Kwadwo Opoku missing, and the quality of opposition up next, the Frenchman could opt to include an extra shield and experience in the middle of the park which would give Wanyama a crack at the starting XI.
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