Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 in their first MLS game at Chase Stadium in Florida. The team of Messi, Busquets, Alba and Luis Suárez, who made their official debut with the Herons, leaves behind the bad feelings of the preseason, where they were only able to win one match.
The first minutes at Chase Stadium, which was full despite the fact that the cheapest ticket cost $235 (€216), were clearly dominated by Inter Miami. Suárez tried it first and, later, Messi, although neither was able to score their first goal in the first league match. Even the current Ballon d’Or attempted an Olympic goal that came close to scoring. “They were 45 very positive minutes,” as ‘Tata’ acknowledged after the game.
However, the first goal of the clash took a while to arrive. It was in the 39th minute, in a play started by Sergio Busquets. The one from Badia del Vallès connected with Messi, who gave the ball to one of his partners in this American adventure, the Finnish Robert Taylor. The ’16’ took a cross shot towards the goal defended by MacMath, goalkeeper of Real Salt Lake, who was not at all successful in the action.
Although the team led by ‘Tata’ Martino had been superior in the first half, the Utah team came out better after the break, having several chances to tie the match. In fact, the Argentine coach ended up upset with the last 45 minutes of his team: “We have to correct this because the teams can hurt you.”
Even so, the team led by David Beckham sealed the match in the 82nd minute, in an action where Messi and Suárez participated. The Uruguayan, who received the ball after good driving, left the ball in front of Diego Gómez, one of the great promises of Paraguayan football, to make the final 2-0.
After the game, the ‘gunslinger’ spoke about his relationship with Busquets, Alba and Messi: “We are very friends on and off the field, we enjoy life and we want to help Inter Miami win the MLS, a title they have never won. “.
On the other hand, ‘Tata’ Martino commented: “I have seen Messi very loose, very fine, with a lot of speed.” Furthermore, the former FC Barcelona coach is “happy”, because he feels that the ’10’ “is motivated and feels well physically”.
Inter Miami: Callender; Yedlin, Avilés (Mota, d.76), Kryvtsov, Alba; Gressel (Allen, m.76), Busquets, Gómez; Messi, Suárez (Campana, m.89) and Taylor (Ruiz, m.76).
Real Salt Lake: MacMath; Eneli, Glad, Vera, Brody; Palace (Barajas, m.66), Ojeda; Gómez (Julio, m.66), Ruiz, Luna (Caliskan, m.73); Arango (Hidalgo, m.86).
Goals: 1-0, m.39: Taylor. 2-0, m.83: Diego Gómez.
Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández (Spain). He showed yellow card to Diego Gómez (m.68) for the locals and Pablo Ruiz (m.15) for the visitors.
Incidents: First day of the MLS regular league played at Chase Stadium before around 20,000 spectators.
