Prior to the team’s arduous international journey, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami lost 1-0 to FC Dallas in a preseason friendly on Monday.
At the Cotton Bowl Stadium in damp, chilly weather, Miami put on another forgettable show following Friday’s dull 0-0 stalemate with El Salvador.
With Miami behind 1-0 after 64 minutes, Argentine sensation Messi, along with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, were all replaced.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
While he remained on the pitch, Messi generated a few opportunities. Early in the second half, Dallas goalie Maarten Paes parried a rasping 30-yard volley, which was Messi’s best effort.
In the first half, the World Cup winner nearly set up Suarez for the first goal, but the Uruguayan’s shot with the outside of his right boot went wide.
After just three minutes, Dallas took the lead thanks to a goal from US international striker Jesus Ferreira. Ferreira held off Miami defender Noah Allen before hitting a low angle drive that went past custodian Drake Callender and into the bottom corner.
The match on Monday was the second of Miami’s world-tour pre season friendlies before they play Real Salt Lake on February 21 to begin the new Major League Soccer season.
After Monday’s match, the Florida team travels to Saudi Arabia to play Al-Hilal on January 29 and Al-Nassr on February 1. In both games, Messi is expected to meet his old nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.
After that, on February 4, Miami will travel to Asia to play a friendly match against a Hong Kong select team in Chinese territory. Three days later, Miami will play Japanese team Vissel Kobe in Tokyo.
On February 15, the Herons play their last preseason matchup against the Argentine team Newell’s Old Boys before heading back to the United States.
