For once what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas. Inter Miami FC faced the American club at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, January 18, in their first preseason rehearsal and fared much better than expected.
The Miami team had barely a week of training and a duel against the three-time MX League champion already filmed this year was not exactly a friendly to stretch the legs, but rather the opposite.
However, the pink club pulled out all its honor to come from behind tying the duel spectacularly at the last sign, and then ended up as the winner of the clash by imposing 3-2 in the penalty discussion, with an anonymous hero.
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With Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the court, there is nothing else to fight to win even in the training and that was the attitude of the pink team, which he wore with his new and elegant black and grey uniform in a very contested and very attractive game.
Messi again was a scandal combining well with Suarez and Jordi Alba a real dagger on the left. Meanwhile, Sergio Busquets gave a recital of how he plays midcenter.
Inter Miami’s goals were scored by Messi (34th) and Tomas Aviles (92o). Meanwhile, those of the Americas were marked by Henry Martin (31) and Israel Reyes (52o).
The Americas showed that it has more trade and is in better shape, with a greater possession (64.5%) and throwing more (10-5), in the end, it had the same effectiveness as Inter Miami played much better than expected for a team that just started.
New coach Javier Mascherano was surprised to make Noah Allen a center and Robert Taylor a right-hander and his eleven with Rocco Rios Novo, Chelo Weigandt, Aviles, Allen, Alba, Taylor, Busquets, Fede Redondo, Messi, Suarez, and Fafa Picault were not bad.
The first half ended 1-1 doing equality justice shown on the court for the first 45 minutes.
The Americas started better and thanks to it had a greater possession (66%), but it was planted very well in defense. Miami gradually stretched and carried the best chances with several attacks led by Messi.
However, the first goal of the game was scored by the Americas in the 31st minute of the game when Henry Martin finished off his right leg practically on the same line, close to the second stick, a ball that Brian Rodriguez tried to finish goal after in good internment on the right.
But the joy lasted a short time. Three minutes later, at 34th, Inter Miami tied the game 1-1 in a magnificent play of the visiting trident completed by Messi.
Luis Suarez received it in the middle of the court and gave it to Messi, who after changing his orientation leaked it to Jordi Alba, who after arriving at the bottom line sent a pumped center to the Uruguayan striker, who upon receiving it he served it to Leo who entered from behind to masterfully finish the ball to the nets.
Miami finished better than it started and with a hug on the scoreboard it came to the break. It was all complicated for Inter Miami in the second half when in the 52nd minute Israel Reyes finished left in the center of the goal a ball that left the Miami goalkeeper loose and that could not clear Allen to put America back in front.
Then to add to the drama Messi and Suarez came out by Yannick Bright and David Martinez respectively. Then followed the classic carousel of changes of a friendly,
Inter Miami tried unsuccessfully with the new legs until the 92nd minute when a very well-re drawn corner by Julian Gressel was topped off head superatheb by Aviles scoring the goal of the 2-2 draw.
The friendly had a cup in dispute and went straight to the penalties where the first five pitchers of both teams barely scored one on the side, with a glimpse for the Miami goalkeeper Rios Novo.
In the sudden death toll, America scored the first and Miami Honduran David Ruiz tied 2-2. Mexican Ramon Juarez failed and Santiago Morales dressed as a hero by scoring the 3-2 that made Inter Miami the winner of the night.
