Inter Miami CF 2-0 Real Salt Lake (22 Feb, 2024) Game Analysis - ESPN (UK)

The blog section has been refreshed on February 22nd, 2024 at 4:19 in the morning.

Lionel Messi contributed to both goals and Inter Miami was able to endure prolonged pressure from Real Salt Lake in the Major League Soccer season debut on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resulting in a 2-0 win.

Towards the end of the first half, Robert Taylor managed to score a goal, and then in the second half, Diego Gomez scored another one for Miami. Miami had control of the game before halftime but seemed to lack the same dominance after it. They got lucky that they were still able to maintain the lead when Gomez scored his goal.

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During the middle of the season, Messi showcased his impressive skills as he effortlessly maneuvered through defenders. The packed crowd eagerly anticipated a possible goal from a free kick or corner kick, which he almost delivered midway through the first half.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated that Inter Miami has caught the attention of the world and he hopes they can meet people's expectations. He attended the match on Wednesday and wishes for a positive experience for everyone involved, including the team's success and global reputation.

In my opinion, that is the most significant narrative for us.

Last season, Messi scored a total of 11 goals in 14 matches while playing for Inter Miami. His impressive performance led the team to win its first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup championship. This was shortly after he shocked many fans of soccer with a terrific 2 1/2-year contract worth approximately $150 million. In 2023, he only participated in six MLS matches, scoring a single goal. His season was hampered by injuries in the later part of the year which contributed to Inter Miami's lacklustre performance as they didn't qualify for the MLS playoffs.

However, the fervor around him is still going strong. Fans were lining up outside the team store to purchase his jersey, which was the highest-selling one in MLS last year and sports a fresh sponsor design this year. He played a key role in the team's victory, providing the assist for the opening goal and setting up Luis Suarez - another former teammate from his time at Barcelona, along with Inter Miami colleagues Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - to get the assist for Gómez's goal.

Suarez expressed his delight after the game, as his fresh squad demonstrated their potential as strong contenders. This differed from their performance during the preseason matches.

Inter Miami began their season by embarking on a tour of seven matches across five international locations, amounting to approximately 25,000 miles of travel. During this tour, they scored a total of eight goals, encountered a fan backlash and were obliged to offer refunds after Messi's injury forced him to miss a game in Hong Kong. The team achieved only one victory in the process.

In the first half of Wednesday's game, they had full control over the opposing team, which had easily qualified for the Western Conference playoffs last season. Messi displayed his skill by effortlessly dodging Salt Lake defender Andrew Brody, who was injured and lying near the penalty box towards the end of the half. Despite this, Brody managed to continue playing.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino expressed that anyone who doubted the team's abilities would have been convinced by the first half of the game. Martino observed that Messi was playing with a sense of freedom on the field and showcased the same impressive skills as always, including his fine control and remarkable speed.

He possesses a unique quality that distinguishes him from other players. He has the ability to seize the ball from a great distance away from the opponent's goal, and he emits a sense of certainty that he will create an opportunity for scoring a goal. An instance of his playing ability is demonstrated by his one-on-two situation at the end of the game, indicating that he is not only physically adept, but also enjoys being on the field.

It's important to mention that the team hasn't won any playoff games yet. Inter Miami has made it to the playoffs two times before but unfortunately lost both times by a score of 3-0, resulting in immediate elimination.

Martino advised not to rush into conclusions and overreact as it was only a single game.

Messi has an enormous impact - on everything. Despite turning 37 soon and being an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, he still garners attention like few other athletes, both on and off the field. On Wednesday, Apple TV premiered the initial episode of "Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend," and last year during his consideration of joining the MLS league, the platform (which has a 10-year $2.5 billion agreement with them) was among those that presented to him.

There are no official figures from Apple, however, on Wednesday, Eddy Cue, who is a senior vice president, expressed his surprise at how well Messi's first year in MLS went.

Cue expressed that their first season was fantastic and exceeded their expectations regarding the number of viewers who watched the games. He also mentioned that the time that people invested in watching the games surpassed all other sports he has witnessed.