Lionel Messi nets free-kick winner in Inter Miami debut

Lionel Messi scored on an excellent free kick deep into second-half stoppage time to place an exclamation level on his Inter Miami debut and carry his new workforce to a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in each groups’ Leagues Cup opener on Friday.

Miami — which introduced Messi off the bench as a result of he is solely had three full coaching periods with the workforce thus far — was outplayed at occasions by the Mexican guests within the match at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

And even the Argentinian celebrity who gained the World Cup solely months in the past and captured the Ballon d’Or because the world’s greatest participant on seven events, had solely scattered possibilities.

But after incomes the foul himself about seven yards past the penalty space, Messi delivered a wonderful, left-footed free kick that beat the defensive wall and goalkeeper Andres Gudino to the highest left nook.

That despatched a sold-out crowd that included the NBA’s LeBron James, tennis’ Serena Williams and media character Kim Kardashian into celebration after Miami — which sat in final place within the Eastern Conference coming into a month-long break for this event — gained for the primary time in any match since May 23.

Robert Taylor additionally scored for Miami simply earlier than halftime to get the Herons off to a wonderful begin in a three-team group that additionally consists of Atlanta United, a part of a contest that features all 47 groups from MLS and Liga MX.

Former LA Galaxy winger Uriel Antuna equalized within the sixty fifth minute for Cruz Azul, which led in photographs 18-12 general and eight to 6 in efforts on the right track.

Drake Callendar made seven saves for Miami to assist them earn all three factors, together with two very early essential saves that stored the match stage and allowed Taylor to provide the Herons the lead.

As the second half began, the 36-year-old Messi joined Miami’s subs in warming up alongside one of many touchlines to chants of “Mes-si, Mes-si!”

He entered the match within the 54th minute to a standing ovation as a part of a triple substitution with fellow new arrival Sergio Busquets and striker Josef Martinez.

After Antuna produced a wonderful leveler, Messi was caught offside on one obvious equalizer, and Martinez was in an identical place on one other.

But there was nothing incorrect with Messi’s long-distance winner, which bent across the defensive wall in a manner former England star turned Miami co-owner David Beckham made well-known.

–Field Level Media/Reuters