Teamwork makes the dream work

Lionel Messi’s late help helps salvage a 2-2 attract Inter Miami’s MLS opener

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Lionel Messi was undeterred by the frigid temperatures on Wednesday night time, when he scored the one objective in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win in opposition to Sporting Kansas Metropolis in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match. Days later, he did not rating of their MLS opener, however he got here up large in one other means: with a late game-tying help.

Telasco Segovia scored the tying objective within the tenth minute of stoppage time, and Inter Miami performed New York Metropolis FC to a 2-2 draw Saturday night time in entrance of a star-studded crowd that included tennis legend Serena Williams and actress Eva Longoria. 

On his second help of the night time, Messi hit a by means of ball to Segovia, who in his MLS debut completed with a pleasant shot from the correct aspect of the field to the underside left nook.

Inter Miami had performed a lot of the second half down a objective. New York’s Alonso Martínez bought a straightforward one previous Oscar Ustari after Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba mistakenly made a cross on to Martínez to place New York up 2-1 within the fifty fifth minute.

However Messi, final season’s MLS MVP, helped his crew rally, displaying no indicators of fatigue in his second match in three days.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner made his mark early. Simply 72 hours after scoring the winner within the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup’s first spherical, Messi took a cross from Alba within the fifth minute Saturday. Messi then fed it to Toto Aviles, who tapped it previous New York’s Matthew Freese to the underside left nook of the objective to place Miami forward 1-0.

Aviles drew a crimson card later within the first half on a late sliding deal with contained in the field, forcing Miami to play with 10 males the remainder of the best way. The foul arrange the tying objective, which Mitja Ilenic scored on a little bit of trickery. On a free kick, Santi Rodriguez despatched a low cross to Ilenic, who Inter Miami didn’t account for lined up far to the left of their defensive position.

Ilenic fired a cross-body shot to the far put up, because the smattering of New York followers at Chase Stadium erupted in cheers that lasted till the waning minutes of the match.

Miami entered this season with excessive expectations after ending atop the Japanese Convention final 12 months and profitable the Supporters Defend earlier than being surprisingly eradicated by Atlanta within the first spherical of the playoffs.

Below new head coach Javier Mascherano, they’re hoping to repeat their dominance.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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