MIAMI — After four failed attempts, Inter Miami CF finally won its first home match at Nu Stadium, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0.
It marks Miami’s first clean sheet at home this season, while Argentine star Lionel Messi led the way with a goal and an assist.
Miami started the match with a huge chance by Messi that was saved by Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis.
After 10 minutes, both teams were trying to control possession in order to break the deadlock.
Miami almost scored the opening goal on a rapid counterattack led by Messi, as he fed a nice through ball to Luis Suarez, but it was saved once again, resulting in a corner kick.
Messi took the corner, and Suarez put the ball in the net; however, he was flagged for offside.
Miami applied constant pressure for the opening 25 minutes as the Herons searched for the match’s opening goal.
Who else but Messi himself scored the first goal of the match in the 31st minute. It was a gorgeous team goal that started with Messi near the halfway line passing to Suarez, who slipped a pass to Telasco Segovia. The sequence ended with a backheel pass to Messi right in front of goal, where he calmly put it into the back of the net.
The assist gave Segovia his sixth of the season, leading all Miami players.
Ten minutes later, Miami scored a second goal after some Messi magic.
The captain took on multiple defenders in the 6-yard box before playing a pass across the face of goal for German Berterame to knock in.
It is now four straight Major League Soccer matches in which Messi has recorded at least two goal involvements.
Miami entered halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead over Portland.
Portland had nine shots in the first half, but only one was on target, while Miami had 12 shots with five on target.
There were no changes for either team when the second half began.
Miami’s game plan coming out of halftime was to drop back and defend its two-goal lead, as the constant pressing from the first half dwindled.
Relying on counterattacking football, Miami earned a golden chance with Daniel Pinter, but he shot it right at Pantemis for an easy save.
Portland kept putting pressure on Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, but it did not lead to any significant chances.
With less than 10 minutes left in the match, Miami made defensive changes in order to close out its first win at Nu Stadium.
The fourth official indicated five minutes of stoppage time after the full 90.
Miami earned a corner kick deep into stoppage time as the first-ever win at Nu Stadium was on the horizon.
After the corner was taken, the crowd started to chant “Messi, Messi, Messi” after the captain won a free kick deep in Portland territory.
Messi took the free kick, but it was saved.
The final whistle blew, and the crowd erupted into cheers, marking the long-awaited win at Nu Stadium.
Miami ended the match with 20 shots and nine on target, with an expected goals total of 3.0, while Portland finished with an expected goals total of 0.82 on 16 shots and four on target.
The final game before the World Cup break is Sunday at 7 p.m. versus the Philadelphia Union.
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