Lionel Messi only took 10 minutes to score his first goal for Inter Miami at the newly anticipated stadium, in front of the stands named after him, in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Austin FC.
Messi was not the first to open the score at this stadium. That honor belonged to Austin's defender Guilherme Biro. However, the Argentine superstar quickly left his mark with a header to equalize just 4 minutes later.
However, Austin - the team that twice hit the post and was denied a clear penalty in the first half - almost ruined the home team's joy when scoring to increase the score right at the beginning of the second half. In a rare situation, Messi lost the ball right near the penalty area and just over 10 seconds later, Jayden Nelson punished that mistake with a goal for Austin.
Messi tried to atone for his mistake when Inter Miami increased the pressure, but his finish after technical handling could not beat goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
The turning point came in the final minutes, when Luis Suarez - who had just been brought onto the field - scored the equalizer with a close-range volley after a corner kick situation, helping Inter Miami avoid defeat on a special day.
However, El Pulga almost completed the dream ending when his familiar free kick hit the post in the final minutes. In the end, Inter Miami extended their unbeaten streak to 5 in the MLS, while Austin continued his 4-match winless streak.
This is a great stadium, world-class. The audience is wonderful, the stadium is almost full" - coach Javier Mascherano shared after the match.
This match marks the first time Inter Miami has played at home since winning the MLS Cup last season, and is also their first match in Miami after more than 6 years of headquartering in Fort Lauderdale.
With co-owner David Beckham, this journey will be even longer. From 2013, Beckham chose Miami to build his own team, and in 2014, MLS officially confirmed the franchise.
When I came to the US 20 years ago, my dream was to win the championship, elevate football and build our own team. 13 years ago, we had nothing, no name, no fans, no stadium. Today, we are champions and have the best player in history playing here. The dream has come true" - Beckham shared.
The stadium opening event took place in a vibrant atmosphere with music performances and the presence of many famous figures, including Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber also attended the inauguration ceremony, marking an important milestone in Inter Miami's development journey.
In the next round, Inter Miami will continue to play at home when they welcome New York Red Bulls.
