A new era for Inter Miami CF is officially underway.
The Herons’ 0-0 draw Friday night against El Salvador at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador may not have been the high-flying start some expected when the big four of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were listed in Tata Martino’s starting XI. But each made it to their planned halftime substitutions unscathed, marking a relatively successful first chapter of Miami’s 2024 story.
Messi, Busquets and Suárez did conjure up some of their familiar tricks in the 36th minute when the trio combined in classic tiki-taka style to free up Messi for a half-volley in the box, but Salvadoran goalkeeper Mario González was equal to the effort. Four minutes later, Alba fired off a shot of his own after collecting a long ball down the left flank, but González parried that effort away, too.
Miami suffered a setback during the second half when 21-year-old Facundo Farías, a bright spot down the 2023 homestretch, was stretchered off the field with what looked like a possible knee injury.
Goals
- None
Lineups
- 1H: CJ dos Santos - Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Tomás Avilés, DeAndre Yedlin, Julian Gressel - Benjamin Cremaschi, Gregore, Sergio Busquets - Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez
- 2H: CJ dos Santos - Chris McVey, Noah Allen, Tomás Avilés (Sergii Kryvtsov 63'), DeAndre Yedlin (Ryan Sailor 63'), Julian Gressel (Robert Taylor 63') - Benjamin Cremaschi (Lawson Sunderland 63'), Gregore, David Ruíz - Facundo Farías, Leonardo Campana
Next Up
Inter Miami face FC Dallas at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Monday, January 22 at 6 pm ET. That match will be streamed exclusively on MLSsoccer.com (English) and MLSes.com (Spanish).
