On a warm summer evening, the LA Galaxy faced off against Inter Miami in a highly anticipated match. Both teams were eager to secure a victory and gain valuable points in the standings. The game started off with intense energy as both sides fought for possession of the ball.
In the first half, Inter Miami struck first with a well-executed goal, putting them in the lead. However, the LA Galaxy quickly responded with a goal of their own, leveling the score at 1-1. The rest of the match was filled with back-and-forth action as both teams pushed for a winning goal.
Messi scored a sliding kick in the 92nd minute of the match to save Inter Miami, resulting in a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on Sunday night, to wrap the opening weekend of the 2024 MLS season.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino credited the tie to “the genius of Leo.”
Messi and Inter Miami were frustrated for 90 minutes, and on the brink of their first loss in the second match of the season.
LA Galaxy come into the 2024 season at less than full strength. Their biggest absence is young defensive star Jalen Neal, who had hernia surgery two weeks ago and will miss six to eight weeks in total. His return will be critical not just for the Galaxy, but also for the United States, as Neal figures to factor in heavily in the youth side that will compete in this summer's Olympics.
Martin Caceres and Daniel Aguirre both missed time in preseason with fitness concerns but have regained their match availability., and both appear in the squad, with the former starting and the latter on the bench.
The stadium south of downtown Los Angeles was packed and roiling with excitement two hours before Messi's first game against the Galaxy, a five-time MLS champion franchise long known as the preferred destination for superstars of Europe looking for a new home after reaching their mid-30s.
Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic late in their careers.
The Galaxy has dominated possession early, but Callendar has kept Inter Miami in this match heading into the second half.
As MLS begins its 29th season, Messi continues to be the biggest draw since joining Inter Miami last summer. He also eclipsed 500 million followers on Instagram this weekend, as one of the most followed on the social media app.
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