Lionel Messi And Inter Miami Held By New York City In MLS Opener

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi began their MLS season with a 2-2 draw against New York City FC. The match, played at Miami’s home ground, saw Messi assist both goals, including the dramatic equalizer in stoppage time. However, Miami had to play with 10 men for most of the game after Tomas Aviles was sent off in the first half.

A Tough Start for Miami

Miami, under new coach Javier Mascherano, took an early lead in the fifth minute when Messi set up Aviles for a well-placed finish. But their momentum was halted when Aviles received a red card for bringing down Alonso Martinez near the box. New York City capitalized immediately, with Mitja Ilenic scoring off a well-executed free-kick move.

Defensive Struggles and Late Heroics

Miami’s makeshift defense, featuring young players Noah Allen and Ian Fray, struggled to contain New York's attacks. A misplaced pass from Jordi Alba gifted Martinez a goal, putting Miami behind in the 55th minute. Despite Miami’s offensive struggles, Messi continued to create chances, and in the 10th minute of stoppage time, he delivered a perfect pass to Telasco Segovia, who lifted the ball over the keeper to secure the draw.

Coach Mascherano praised Messi’s influence, saying, "He's the soul of this team... not just with his play but what he transmits to his teammates."

Other MLS Highlights

Elsewhere, Emmanuel Latte Lath scored twice on his debut to lead Atlanta United to a 3-2 win over Montreal. The Philadelphia Union stunned Orlando City with a 4-2 victory, and Cincinnati’s new signing Kevin Denkey scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win against the New York Red Bulls.

The MLS season promises to be exciting, with champions LA Galaxy set to take on San Diego FC in their opener.

Stay tuned for more updates on the MLS season!

Reference from:-https://sports.ndtv.com/football/lionel-messi-and-inter-miami-held-by-new-york-city-in-mls-opener-7773875