Lionel Messi scores winner for Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul in MLS debut
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – You couldn’t have written a greater script, or draw up a greater ending.
Lionel Messi’s American debut lived as much as the event. And the best soccer participant on this planet made his presence felt in probably the most electrical of fashions.
Messi scored a purpose on a free kick within the 94th minute of his Inter Miami debut, main his new MLS workforce to a 2-1 victory over LIGA MX workforce Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup play on Friday evening at DRV PNK Stadium.
Messi, ever the savvy veteran and soccer celebrity, was fouled within the ultimate minute, and rolled over on his abdomen as he held his head. The foul was apparent.
The stage was set with a number of seconds left earlier than the ultimate whistles.
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And Messi’s left boot – which led Argentina to a World Cup and gained seven Ballons d’Or because the world’s greatest males’s soccer participant – seized the second.
Messi’s purpose hit the left facet of the online above the goalkeeper’s attain – simply because it was presupposed to – inflicting the gang of greater than 22,000 folks in attendance to rejoice into the evening.
Messi Mania is formally stay and properly.
And really taking place in South Florida and America as a complete.
The best participant on this planet selected this workforce, and this metropolis and this soccer league to proceed his legendary profession.
After years of Messi to Inter Miami hypothesis and intrigue, years of asking whether or not the world’s biggest soccer participant may be a part of MLS, it simply felt surreal when it lastly occurred.
Even after the preliminary announcement, the photoshopped jersey pictures, the extravagant introduction, the followers stopping him on the street resulting in his new pitch, and a viral journey to a Publix grocery retailer, it nonetheless didn’t really feel actual.
Messi didn’t begin for Inter Miami, however entered within the 54th minute, a lot to the enjoyment of a sellout crowd of twenty-two,000 followers in attendance – together with celebrities like LeBron James, Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams.
Cruz Azul’s Uriel Antuna tied the sport within the sixty fifth minute with a strike that grazed the goalie’s palms into the online, spoiling Inter Miami’s 1-0 halftime lead due to Robert Taylor’s purpose within the forty fourth minute.
Messi felt some adversity in his first MLS recreation, as a no-call fall and two offsides calls in ultimate minutes constructed some angst for the previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
If either side remained tied after 90 minutes, the sport would have been determined by penalty kicks in Leagues Cup play.
As a substitute, Messi took over.
Within the ultimate seconds of his first MLS recreation, it lastly sunk in.
Messi referred to as recreation in his first recreation. And now, the hype solely grows.
Messi scores game-winner for Inter Miami
Lionel Messi made probably the most of his Main League Soccer debut, scoring a jaw-dropping purpose on a free kick within the 94th minute to steer Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over LIGA MX workforce Cruz Azul.
Messi, Inter Miami see recreation tied at 1
Ten minutes after Messi’s debut, Cruz Azul discovered its approach play spoiler.
Uriel Antuna, a 25-year-old proper winger, had area and his strike grazed off the goalie’s contact into the left facet of the online.
The purpose tied the sport at 1, and set the stage for a second half with increased stakes in Messi’s first recreation.
Messi warms up throughout halftime earlier than debut
Messi was not on the sector when the second half started.
However Messi took the sector to heat up with teammates throughout halftime of his first MLS recreation, with Inter Miami holding a 1-0 lead.
Messi was not on the sector for lengthy, however followers did present their pleasure getting their first glimpse of him on the pitch.
Messi’s debut is prone to come within the second half of this recreation. It is unclear how a lot time Messi will play.
Messi cheers as Inter Miami takes 1-0 lead vs. Cruz Azul
Whereas Cruz Azul had the sting in the course of the first half with possession, Inter Miami made certain they took a lead earlier than Messi’s debut.
Robert Taylor scored in 44’ with a strike off his proper foot simply inside the precise publish to excite the gang simply earlier than halftime.
Messi stood up and cheered following the rating, about 6-7 minutes earlier than each groups completed the primary half.
It didn’t take lengthy for followers to start out chanting Messi’s identify within the opening minute.
Actually, about 40 seconds handed earlier than the primary Messi chant, as he waited on the bench.
The second spherical of chanting got here across the 9’ mark, throughout a chaotic first 12 minutes of the sport between each groups.
Messi not in beginning lineup
Messi arrived to the stadium shortly after 6 p.m., about two hours earlier than kickoff. He was not within the beginning lineup launched forward of the sport, so is anticipated to come back off the bench for his debut.
Beckham hinted at that risk within the days resulting in the match, saying Messi wanted to verify he was prepared after getting back from time without work.
Now, it’s only a matter of when Messi, donning a No. 10 Inter Miami jersey, will make his debut official.
LeBron, Brady, Kardashian amongst celebrities at Messi’s debut
Messi’s worldwide celeb is anticipated to attract simply as many high-profile celebrities to his first Inter Miami recreation.
All-time NBA scoring chief LeBron James and Messi shared a heartfelt hug collectively earlier than the sport.
Tennis legend Serena Williams arrived shortly earlier than kickoff, whereas seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Tom Brady is reportedly anticipated to attend.
Actuality TV star Kim Kardashian was an early arriver to the festivities, whereas Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was additionally in attendance.
How Messi and Beckham’s MLS journeys coincide
Messi’s debut with Inter Miami comes 16 years after David Beckham made his MLS debut with the L.A. Galaxy.
Beckham’s debut got here within the 78th minute throughout a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in a World Sequence of Soccer match in 2007.
We’re all ready for the minute Messi makes his debut.