Lionel Messi teammate rushed off field in ambulance after frightening head collision
Inter Miami forward German Berterame suffered a worrying head injury during Saturday’s MLS game against CF Montreal and was taken off the field in an ambulance after the contest was brought to a halt.
Miami was chasing the opening goal against Montreal with 20 minutes remaining, and Yannick Bright flicked a header into the penalty area. Berterame attempted to win the loose ball, but was pressured by Daniel Pereira and Efrain Morales, with the latter making contact and sending him to the ground.
Berterame appeared unresponsive as he hit the ground, and Montreal’s Brayan Vera instantly signaled that urgent treatment was required. Players from both teams then called for trainers to enter the field, and the game was stopped for nearly 10 minutes as the Miami star was attended.
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An ambulance then entered the field, and Berterame was removed, forcing Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos to make a substitution. He was replaced by Preston Plambeck, who scored the winning goal in Miami’s previous 3-2 win over the Chicago Fire.
Amid the worrying scenes, Miami was awarded a penalty as the referee determined that Morales had fouled Berterame with the contact inside the box. Luis Suarez converted the spot kick nearly 10 minutes after the penalty was awarded, and coolly chipped the ball into the net, which ended up being the winning goal.
Miami has already been left shorthanded in attack, as Lionel Messi is currently on vacation after participating in the FIFA World Cup. Messi reached the final with Argentina but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain after extra time.
With the final taking place on July 19, Messi has been advised by FIFPRO, the global representative organization for professional footballers, to take 21 days off. Should he adhere to the request, he will next be available for Miami on Monday, Aug. 10.
With MLS resuming toward the end of the World Cup, and then staging a full matchday three days after the final, Messi has already missed two Miami games. Suarez has stepped up in both, scoring a brace in a 3-2 win over Chicago before scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win over Montreal.
Messi has already been confirmed as absent for the MLS All-Star Game on July 29, and is expected to miss Miami’s game against the Columbus Crew on Aug. 1. The Leagues Cup then gets underway for Miami on Aug. 5, with a home game against Mexican side San Luis.
The second Leagues Cup game is against Monterrey, Berterame’s former club, on Aug. 5. Messi is expected to be involved on Aug. 12 against Club Leon, the final Leagues Cup group phase clash.
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