LIONEL Messi started his American journey with a Hollywood ending by scoring a surprising last-gasp winner.
The Argentine celebrity got here off the bench for brand spanking new crew Inter Miami to ship the followers in Fort Lauderdale into blast-off as he stole a Leagues Cup win over Mexicans Cruz Azul with the final kick of the sport.
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Introduced down from behind 25 yards out by Carlos Salcedo, it was the right set-up for a second of brilliance.
And Messi, as so usually, didn’t disappoint, arcing his left-footer over the wall and past the greedy, flailing fingers of keeper Andres Gudino.
Even Messi’s smile betrayed his consciousness of the affect he had made in his new adopted house, with Inter part-owner David Beckham and his spouse Victoria among the many many shaking their heads.
As Messi hugged outdated pal Sergio Busquets, earlier than becoming a member of his new team-mates on a parade of honour, there have been nonetheless gasps of marvel echoing across the DRV PNK Stadium.
However then once more, now we have all been left open-mouthed by Messi on so many events, it’s in all probability proper {that a} new technology of followers get the prospect to share that emotion.
The celebrations of the supporters weren’t as joyful as these of the Argentine followers in Doha seven months in the past but will really feel equally memorable.
They’d been calling for him with chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi” simply 40 seconds into the sport and at last obtained their means after 53 minutes.
As he appeared on the touchline, fairly in pink, there was a wave of noise, a roar of just about disbelief.
For lots of the followers, it could nonetheless appear inconceivable.
However sure, that was Messi, Lionel Messi, THE Lionel Messi, changing Miami-born Argentina youth midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, getting a handshake from the REFEREE as he entered the fray.
His first contact was trademark, leaving his marker for lifeless and laying again to again one-twos to advance 30 yards within the blink of an eye fixed.
Messi was accompanied on to the pitch by his former Barcelona team-mate Busquets – and Inter arguably want the Spaniard greater than the Argentine.
Certainly, fairly what Messi and Busquets would have product of the primary 40 minutes or so could be attention-grabbing to know.
Cruz Azul are winless and pointless and stand backside of the Liga MX standings – with only one scored – after three video games to date.
However they need to have put the sport to mattress inside the primary 20, solely poor ending, the heroics of Miami keeper Drake Callender and the woodwork maintaining the match alive.
It was far too apparent why Miami had not received in 11 video games since Might 13, shambolic defensively and carrying all of the punch of an alcohol-free cocktail.
But, from nowhere, they went in entrance simply earlier than the break, with Robert Taylor – a Finnish worldwide however with an English dad and who had youth spells at Nottingham Forest and Lincoln – slicing in from the left to search out the online off the within of the far publish.
They didn’t deserve it. However it wasn’t about that.
It was solely about one man.
In spite of everything, Miami Royalty – within the type of Lebron James, Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian – wouldn’t have been in attendance to pay homage to anyone. The brand new King of Florida is a unique story.
Cruz Azul appeared transfixed for a spell, decided to deal with him as so particular they didn’t need to get shut, letting Messi wander wherever he wished to go as he dropped into pockets of house.
When Mexico winger Uriel Antuna rifled the equaliser by means of the arms of the keeper, Messi puffed out his cheeks, realizing he was below much more expectations.
Demanding the ball, he virtually performed in ex-Spurs and Newcastle full-back DeAndre Yedlin, acquired from Busquets just for his shot to be deflected softly into the keeper’s chest after which despatched striker Josef Martinez by means of on aim just for him to go too vast.
Messi was smashed to the bottom as he tried to get on the top of Busquets’ return ball, getting groggily to his toes because the referee turned his again on the pleas for a penalty.
He saved on making the runs, recreating that Camp Nou link-up with Busquets as soon as extra however crowded out, flagged – accurately – earlier than organising a tap-in for Martinez, who then himself went too early as the gang thought the second had come.
However as soon as the free-kick was awarded – it was a bit of on the delicate facet – there was an inevitability about what was to observe.
The Biggest is aware of what units him aside. His timing, as so usually, was actually impeccable. Welcome to America, Lio.
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