The Argentinian-Italian Lotti had been part of Cruz Azul’s five-man wall for the goal and watched helplessly as Messi’s calculated shot went over his head. “We know that a free kick from there is like a penalty kick for (Messi),” said Cruz Azul’s striker Augusto Lotti from the stadium’s mixed zone. It was an inevitable and bitter ending for the visitors from Mexico City. They had outplayed Miami for 90 minutes, only to be sent home with their heads down by a moment of brilliance from Messi. Of course, there was dejection on the Cruz Azul side. The reaction of Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Beckham and his family to Messi’s goal. When he came in (off the bench), a couple of us said that he was going to win the game for us, and that’s what happened.” We wanted to go celebrate but he went to the other side (of the field). “I was standing on top of our chairs,” Cremaschi said. The sights and sounds from Messi's magical Inter Miami debut The 36-year-old played all of the hits in this opening show, etching his setlist in American soccer lore. He walked the pitch and threaded line-breaking passes with elite precision. It became apparent on Friday night that Messi is also here to entertain.įrom the moment he stepped onto the field as a 54th-minute substitute, Messi glided past defenders and duped his markers with a classic body feint. Throughout the week, Inter Miami co-owners Jorge Mas and David Beckham, along with head coach Gerardo Martino, reiterated that Messi has come to the club bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference table to compete. Messi had delivered in heroic fashion in his American soccer debut. I was hoping to score in order to avoid going to penalties.”Įven though Messi has done this before, there were thousands of shocked faces among the 22,000 fans in attendance. For our confidence, it’s important that we win these games. We have to start winning, even though this is a different competition. “I’m so happy that we were able to get this win. I was lucky that it was on target, that the goalkeeper didn’t get to it and… that it was a goal (with a laugh). He described the moment with a nervous laugh, humbly unaware of its magnitude for US soccer followers. “It was set up for me at the end,” Messi said from pitchside after the match. Messi scores in his first match with the club to give us the lead in the 94th minute. Messi’s 42nd set-piece goal in club football is now the most memorable goal ever scored for an MLS team.Įl primer gol de Messi con Inter Miami □□□□ Before the ball had even met Gudiño’s net, Inter Miami’s new boy was off and running in celebration. Now sure of where he was going with the ball, Messi opened up his left foot and curled a shot, with pace, over the wall. As he took his paces, Messi looked up at the corner of the net he had chosen. He moved it again, caressed it lightly with his hands and then stepped back again. He fixed his collar and walked back to the ball. The anticipation inside the stadium continued to grow, but Messi wasn’t ready to shoot just yet. He looked up and picked his corner, then took three steps away from the ball, stopped and stared at it. He repositioned the ball with both hands then twisted it slightly into the ground, searching for the perfect spot. Messi, meanwhile, was going through his own personal ritual. Cruz Azul winger Uriel Antuna, who had tied the match in the 65th minute, laid on his side behind the wall, to prevent Messi from trying to sneak a shot under the human barricade. When Honduran referee Said Martínez blew his whistle and called the foul, everyone in the stadium, and the millions watching on screens around the world, wondered if a magical Messi moment was in store.įollow live coverage of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami vs Atlanta UnitedĬruz Azul goalkeeper Andrés Gudiño stood at the post to his right and set up a five-man wall, yelling frantically at his teammates - every inch matters when Messi is over the ball in this position. Messi had been sandwiched by two opponents roughly 24 yards from the Cruz Azul goal. His new club, Inter Miami, were tied 1-1 with Mexican side Cruz Azul on the opening group stage matchday of the Leagues Cup, a competition that sees MLS teams playing Liga MX sides.
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