Inter Miami Debut of Suárez-Messi Duo Ends in Goalless Draw in El Salvador
Mixed Performance and Injury Woes Overshadow Friendly Match
In the much-anticipated friendly match between Inter Miami and the El Salvador team, the American side failed to secure a goal, resulting in a disappointing 0-0 draw. The match marked the debut of the dynamic duo, Luis Suárez from Uruguay and Lionel Messi from Argentina, who previously played together at Barcelona.
Inter Miami, preparing for the upcoming MLS season, kicked off their international tour in San Salvador, commencing a journey that will take them over 38,000 kilometers until February 15. Their fixtures include matches in Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan. However, the opening encounter against El Salvador did not provide the desired result for Gerardo 'Tata' Martino's team.
Despite the star power of Suárez and Messi, who shared the field for the first time since their Barcelona days, their performance lacked brilliance. With limited training and low intensity, Inter Miami struggled to maintain control of the game. Messi had the best chance in the first half, only to be denied by the opposing goalkeeper. Surprisingly, El Salvador came closest to securing victory when Styven Vásquez's header hit the crossbar in the 82nd minute.
Following this underwhelming friendly, Inter Miami will proceed to Texas to face FC Dallas before embarking on their matches in Arabia, where they will square off against Al Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in Riyadh. Their tour will then take them to Hong Kong for a clash against a local selection of players, culminating in a duel against Kobe in Tokyo.
Martino wasted no time in fielding Suárez, Inter Miami's marquee signing. Wearing the number 9 on his back, Suárez accompanied Messi in Martino's 5-3-2 formation, with Spaniards Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also making the starting lineup. Although Inter Miami dominated possession, their pace remained slow, allowing El Salvador to rely on counterattacks. In the latter stages of the first half, Inter Miami finally created opportunities. In the 37th minute, the quartet of former Barcelona players combined to initiate a promising attack, ultimately resulting in Messi's shot on goal being saved. Shortly after, Jordi Alba's strike was also repelled by the goalkeeper.
At the iconic Cuscatlán stadium, in the midst of passionate fans, every touch of the ball by Messi was celebrated, and the crowd applauded when he exhibited good sportsmanship by shaking hands with Mario González after committing a foul. The star-studded Inter Miami lineup was substituted at halftime, observing the second half from the bench in a relaxed atmosphere.
The intensity escalated after the break, with a strong foul by Cerén on Gregore leading to both players receiving yellow cards. The situation worsened for Inter Miami in the 71st minute when Facundo Farías, who had replaced Messi, suffered a serious knee injury and had to leave the field on a stretcher. The Argentine forward departed in tears, adding to the frustration of the American team.
The game's best opportunity arrived in the 82nd minute, but it fell to El Salvador. Vásquez, a recent substitute, came agonizingly close to putting his team ahead with a header that struck the crossbar. This chance marked the final highlight of the match in San Salvador.
Inter Miami now faces a series of preparation games before the start of the MLS season, hoping to fine-tune their performance and overcome the challenges that emerged in this opening encounter. The spotlight will continue to be on the Suárez-Messi partnership, as fans eagerly await their magic on the pitch. Stay tuned for more updates on Inter Miami's journey and their quest for success in the MLS.