Everything before tonight indicated that Lionel Messi would see minimal, if any, action in his first opportunity for MLS minutes with Inter Miami.
Still, with Inter Miami leading 1-0 with Diego Gomez’s first-half goal and the Red Bull Arena crowd begging to see the Argentine superstar, they would get their wish. Messi came on for more than half an hour of action and his 89th-minute goal sealed victory as the Herons edged past the New York Red Bulls in Messi’s MLS debut.
Back in league action after the League Cup break, Inter Miami sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with 12 games remaining, needing a near-perfect finish to the season to get a sniff of a playoff spot. The mountain they have to climb is formidable, but these three points against another play-off opponent is a fantastic start.
With Messi and Sergio Busquets on the bench to start the game and needing to rest after a grueling first month at their new club, Inter Miami fought back well, surviving the loss of Omir Fernandez and taking the lead through Gomez’s superb through ball. While the Red Bulls had chances to equalize, it was Messi’s first-ever MLS goal to seal the three points, lifting Inter Miami off the bottom of the Eastern Conference table and into 14th place, leapfrogging Toronto FC.
Inter Miami Player Rating:
GK: Callender – 8.3
RB: Taylor – 6.9
CB: Aviles– 7.4
CB: Miller – 7.3
CB: Allen– 8.0 ( 1 Assists)
LB: Alba – 7.3
MF: Arroyo – 7.4
CDM: Ruiz– 6.8
MF: Gomez– 8.4 ( 1 Goal)
LW: Fariaz– 7.0
CF: Campana:6.9
substitute
LW: Messi: 7.3 ( Goals)
CDM: Busquets – 6.8
MF: Cremaschi –6.9 ( 1 Assists)
RB: Yadlin- 6.5