CARSON, Calif. (February 25, 2024) – Inter Miami CF (1W-0L-1D- 4 points) earned a point in a hardfought 1-1 draw against Los Angeles Galaxy in the team’s first road game of the 2024 MLS regular season. The match at Dignity Health Sports Park saw goalkeeper Drake Callender have a stellar performance in goal, while captain Lionel Messi and defender Jordi Alba tallied their first goal and assist of the season respectively.
“I think that in the second half we played better, we had chances, our opponents scored on the counterattack, but after we had the personality to continue searching and we arrived well to the tie, with the genius of Leo [Messi],” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Inter Miami repeated the starting XI from the midweek win over Real Salt Lake in the team’s 2024 home opener. Callender started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Tomás Avilés, Sergii Kryvtsov and Alba formed the back four; Julian Gressel, Sergio Buquets and Diego Gómez lined up in midfield; Messi and Taylor started on the wings alongside striker Luis Suárez in attack.
The first first half presented a sparkling display from Callender between the sticks, with the California-born goalkeeper coming up big on several occasions to keep the hosts from scoring. Notably, he saved a penalty attempt from midfielder Riqui Puig in the 13th minute. Callender then once again denied Puig in the 29th minute, stretching out to the fullest extent to stop the shot heading towards the top left corner of the goal.
Despite both team’s attempts throughout the first 45 minutes, the match went into the half scoreless.
In the second half, the hosts were finally able to break the deadlock in the 75th minute through a goal from forward Dejan Jovejlic, but there was more to come.
Following several dangerous attempts throughout the second half, Messi was able to find the a late equalizer in the second minute of added time; the Argentine attacker intercepted a pass and found Alba on the left side of the pitch just outside the box before the duo combined in a spectacular sequence of passes that finished with the left back making a run into space inside the box. Alba then served a ball backwards for Messi in front of goal, where he closed out with a first-time, left-footed finish to send the ball to the back of the net. The goal was Messi’s first this 2024 regular season, while the assist was the first of the season for Alba as well.
The 1-1 scoreline remained unchanged throughout the remaining minutes of added time and Inter Miami collected a point in the team’s first-ever visit to Dignity Health Sports Park.
Inter Miami will now return to South Florida to host rivals Orlando City SC at Chase Stadium in the team’s next match on Saturday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
LA – Dejan Joveljic (Mark Delgado) 75’
MIA – Lionel Messi (Jordi Alba) 90’ + 2’
Misconduct Summary:
LA – Mark Delgado (Yellow Card 46’, Red Card 87’)
MIA – Julian Gressel (Yellow Card 11’), Sergio Busquets (Yellow Card 21’), Jordi Alba (Yellow Card 51’)
Lineups / Substitutions:
Los Angeles Galaxy – GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, Maya Yoshida, Martín Cáceres, Julián Aude (John Nelson 79’); M Edwin Cerrillo, Mark Delgado, Diego Fagúndez (Gabriel Pec 70’), Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil (Daniel Aguirre 86’); F Dejan Joveljic (Miguel Berry 86’)
Unused Substitutes – GK Novak Micovic; D Mauricio Cuevas, Eriq Zavaleta; M Gastón Brugman, Jonathan Pérez
Inter Miami CF – GK Drake Callender; D DeAndre Yedlin, Sergii Kryvtsov, Tomás Avilés, Jordi Alba; M Julian Gressel (Lawson Sunderland 84’), Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez (Shanyder Borgelin 84’); F Lionel Messi ©, Robert Taylor (David Ruiz 67’), Luis Suárez (Leonardo Campana 67’)
Unused Substitutes – GK CJ dos Santos; D Noah Allen, Nicolás Freire, Ryan Sailor; M Jean Mota
Details of the Game:
Date: February 25, 2024
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Stats:
Possession:
LA – 41%
MIA – 59%
Shots:
LA – 23
MIA – 11
Saves:
LA – 4
MIA – 8
Corners:
LA – 3
MIA – 6
Fouls:
LA – 14
MIA – 19
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