Lionel Messi scored his first MLS goal without a substitution to help Inter Miami win 2-0 over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Messi made his MLS debut in the 60th minute, replacing Leonardo Campana.
- Then he scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute. Diego Gómez scored Miami’s first goal in the 37th minute.
- Messi made his Miami debut on July 21 and came on after 684 minutes against New York. Before Saturday’s win, Messi had played 390 minutes in four games in the past two weeks.
- With the win, Miami relegated to last place in the Eastern Conference. The team is now in 14th place.
Messi –> Cremaschi –> MESSI
OUT OF. FROM. THE. WORLD. pic.twitter.com/NzBKniNExm
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 27, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
A significant triumph for Miami
Today’s result was a big result for the Tata Martino project in Miami. Since Messi’s arrival, it’s too easy to say that Inter Miami will win because of the Argentine captain and his two former Barcelona teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. They’re a big reason Inter Miami are unbeaten nine games in a row, but Martino’s system, or as Messi put it two weeks ago “his clear ideas”, was also a big factor.
Miami looked relaxed and well-prepared to withstand the pressure from the Red Bulls, even without Busquets and Messi as valves. – Cardenas
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The crowd goes wild
Four times in the first 10 minutes, the fans in the Red Bull Arena shouted “We want Messi!” chant. As the Red Bulls went on to attack in the second half, the crowd stopped cheering for Messi as he jumped off the bench for the first time to start the warm-up.
The only sound that was louder was Messi coming on until the only sound that was louder was Messi’s 89th-minute goal that sealed the Miami win.
The Red Bull Arena was neither a Red Bull crowd nor a Miami crowd. Have no illusions – that was a Lionel Messi audience.
The reaction here was very different from the boos he got in Philadelphia when Miami faced Union in the Open Cup. It’s likely that most of his MLS games will look more like the fan sanctuary at Red Bull Arena than Philly’s hostility. — Bogert
Miami shows its depth
Miami’s depth was on full display, a secondary storyline to their summer window. In addition to Messi, Busquets and Alba, Miami has added three highly talented, up-and-coming South American youth internationals through the U-22 initiative: Tomás Avilés ($7m in fees plus surcharges), Facundo Farías ($5.5m) and Gómez ($3m). . . All three started and played key roles.
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Gómez scored the opener; Avilés played 90 minutes in the shutout and Farías appeared to be Miami’s most dangerous attacking opportunity in his first start.
Martino again set up Miami in the 3-4-3 system, showing tactical flexibility over the 4-3-3 he has played in most games. They stayed in that system when Messi came on.
If they’re going from last place to the playoff line and closing a 14 point difference early in that period, they’ll need depth to get past their starts.
They nailed it on Saturday, their return to MLS play for the first time since their summer boom. — Bogert
What’s next for Messi?
Messi’s upcoming schedule includes MLS games against Nashville and LAFC on August 30 and September 3 respectively, as well as two World Cup qualifiers with Argentina against Ecuador (on September 9) and Bolivia (on September 12). The 36-year-old will then play against Atlanta United (September 16), Toronto FC (September 20) and Orlando City (September 24) before the US Open final against Houston on September 27 .
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(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty)