Inter Miami slumped to its first defeat of the Major League Soccer season on Sunday, losing 3-2 at home to Montreal after the Herons opted to rest Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

Fernando Alvarez, Matias Coccaro and Sunusi Ibrahim scored the goals for Montreal, who moved into second place in the Eastern Conference standings where it trails Miami on goal difference.

Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino opted to rest several of his first choice starting lineup, with Messi omitted from the squad altogether and Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets on the bench.

But the wisdom of that decision soon came under scrutiny after Montreal dominated the early exchanges before Alvarez headed the visitor into the lead from a corner in the 13th minute.

Miami slowly worked itself into the game thereafter, and Jordi Alba had the ball in the net in the 17th minute only for it to be disallowed for offside.

Messi had been listed as questionable with a shin injury picked up in Thursday night's 2-2 draw at Nashville SC in the first leg of its round-of-16 series in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Agencies