Lionel Messi makes a dream start in Miami with a free-kick goal in stoppage time to give Inter Miami victory in the Leagues Cup vs. Cruz Azul
- Lionel Messi’s debut at Inter Miami was one for the history books
- He scored a memorable, curling free-kick at death to give his side victory
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Lionel Messi’s time in Miami started on Friday with an absolute storybook, with the Argentina World Cup winner scoring a free-kick in the 94th minute to win the match.
Messi was expected to be given around 30 minutes, but he played more than that and entered the 54th minute with his side leading 1–0.
And it wasn’t long before he showed why his signing was so celebrated by Miami and MLS, as he buzzed down the field and his teammates slipped behind defense on multiple occasions.
Cruz Azul would tie the game in the 65th minute, but in the end there was too much time left for Messi’s heroics as the home side won.
DeAndre Yedlin rolled the ball to Messi at the top of the box, before the Argentine was brought down from about 20 yards out.
Lionel Messi gave Inter Miami a walk-off victory with a stunning free kick in the 94th minute
It was a dream start to life in the US for Messi, who buzzed around the pitch in a free roll
He will always be over the free kick and he curled the ball into the top left corner to win the game.
The second half introductions of Messi and Busquets came after Miami took the lead through Robert Taylor late in the second half.
The winger hacked his right foot in the 44th minute and found the far post of the net, with the ball hitting the woodwork and going in.
It took Inter Miami four years of planning and two years of actual effort to bring Messi to the club.
Messi quickly made an impact on the game as he buzzed in a free roll
Messi and Inter Miami now face Atlanta in their next League Cup game on Tuesday
“Worth it,” said co-owner David Beckham earlier this week.
How right he was.
No one even moved when the half-time whistle blew.
The reason: Messi was on the field. He warmed up with the other reserves for about five minutes during the interval before they all left for the locker room.
Miami will now face Atlanta in the next Leagues Cup game on Tuesday.