Miami, USA – Argentine legend Lionel Messi made a memorable appearance on a historic night for Inter Miami. He scored the team’s first goal at their new home, NU Stadium, during their 2-2 draw against Austin FC in the MLS.
The match began at a fast pace, with Austin taking an early lead through Guilherme Peiró in the sixth minute. Messi responded quickly, making his mark just 10 minutes later, scoring Inter Miami’s first goal at their new stadium with a superb header.
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Austin complicated matters again at the start of the second half, capitalizing on a Messi error on the edge of the penalty area. The ball fell to Jayden Nelson, who slotted it into the net, giving his team the lead once more.
Messi tried to rectify the mistake and lead his team back into the game. However, goalkeeper Brad Stover’s brilliance prevented this, as he thwarted several dangerous attempts by the Argentine star.
In the crucial moments, Luis Suarez appeared to save Inter Miami from defeat, after scoring the equalizer 9 minutes before the end, taking advantage of a corner kick just minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Messi almost secured a perfect victory for his team in the dying moments, but his free-kick struck the post, denying them a win that would have completed the celebrations in style.
With this draw, Inter Miami continued their positive run, extending their unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches in the MLS. Meanwhile, Austin’s struggles continued for the fourth straight game without a win.
