The Argentine was a 60th minute substitute and bagged a late second for Inter Miami as the Herons move off the foot of the table with the win.
Bryan ArellanoBryxn_APaul Reidypaulreidy67Update: Aug 27th, 2023 02:07 EDT
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 26: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with teammate after scoring a goal 2h during a match between Inter Miami CF and New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on August 26, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey.AL BELLOAFP
Inter Miami returned to Major League Soccer action fresh from their win in the 2023 Leagues Cup and were on a roll having progressed to the US Open Cup final. As expected, head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino kept his word and rested both Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets with both players starting on the bench.
New York RB welcomed Inter Miami on their return to MLS at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey with the Herons coming into the game rooted at the foot of the Eastern Conference with just 12 games left for the side from Florida who face an uphill challenge if they are to secure a playoff place.
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Fans react as Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami begins to warm-up in the second half during a match between Inter Miami CF and New York Red BullsBRUCE BENNETTAFP
Different lineup
After Wednesday’s Open Cup win against Cincinnati midweek, Martino did allude pre-game that he would rotate the team despite the desperate need for three points and opted to use Campana as sole striker as part of a 5-4-1 formation with Diego Gomez stepping up and bagging the opener for Miami as he latched onto a loose ball in the box slotting home with a left footed effort in the 37th minute.
Diego Gomez gives Miami the lead. 💥(Messi & Busquets love it) pic.twitter.com/HzcmRgDRle
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 27, 2023
Alba plays
With Messi and Busquets starting on the bench, Jordi Alba was the only member of the trio of high profile reinforcements for the Miami team to start with the former Barcelona players joining the action on the hour mark replacing Yedlin and Ochoa respectively.
Messi makes MLS debut
Lionel Messi was once the focal point of the game at Red Bull Arena and delighted the many pink clad Inter Miami fans present in the last minute when he combined well with Cremaschi to tap home from close range to open his MLS account with the Argentine now scoring 11 goals since his Inter Miami debut in the Leagues Cup against Cruz Azul last month.
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Inter Miami’s Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi KENA BETANCURAFP
