So many times social networks have been flooded with videos of the 'memory' combinations between
Lionel Messi
and
Jordi Alba
that it already seems natural and the strange thing is that they do not happen when they come together on a playing field.
This Sunday, at dawn on Monday in Argentina,
the Argentine world champion appeared in the 92nd minute to rescue Inter Miami
and, after a double-wall combination with the Spanish full-back made in Barcelona, made it
1-1 against Los Angeles Galaxy
, in their second match of the
United States MLS
season .
Messi 🔗 Alba
WHAT A GOAL!
pic.twitter.com/LuYpsiAb2X
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 26, 2024
The development of the game had cost Las Garzas a lot, in their first excursion of the season away from Florida.
Led by the quality of Riqui Puig, another former teammate in the culé team, the top winners of the MLS found a way to disconnect Inter:
by taking the ball away from them
.
But
the expulsion for a double yellow card of Marco Delgado at 87'
, a while after the Serbian
Dejan Joveljic
had made the almost
27,000 fans
who filled the Dignity Health Sports Park stadium in the city of Carson, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, explode.
, changed the tone of a match that not even Messi's quality had managed to match.
THE BREAKTHROUGH 💥
Dejan Joveljić gives @LAGalaxy the 1-0 lead!
pic.twitter.com/DsyoV0ZpHh
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 26, 2024
The unforced errors in possession management in the Florida team were visibly higher than last Wednesday's debut against Real Salt Lake.
It seemed that the Galaxy came out determined to 'not respect' the hierarchy imposed by Messi, Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, once again disconnected and replaced early by Tata Martino, which caused some on-air insults from the Uruguayan.
Within that sloppiness that the Argentine world champion's team showed - which still did not have the brand new addition
Fernando Redondo
on the bench -, Messi was the most dangerous on the field, with two mid-distance shots that forced the intervention of the goalkeeper
John McCarthy
.
CALLENDER DENIES RIQUI PUIG
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/jq1gYnibEi pic.twitter.com/Y04dXx1sny
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 26, 2024
On the other side, Drake Callender was once again the figure
.
As during 2023 he was vital for consecration in the Leagues Cup, on the late night in Los Angeles he deactivated several dangerous opportunities, including a penalty taken by Riqui Puig at 13 minutes, which could have changed the development of the game.
Inter Miami suffered in the game, it was said
.
Because he was not clear in possession, he was left unarmed in the retreat and the speed of the Uruguayan Fagundez, Puig and the Ghanaian Joseph Paintsil were a constant headache.
But effectiveness in finishing is as important as gestation, and that's where the team led by Greg Vanney failed.
And in the worst moment for Inter Miami, referee Gabriele Ciampi - who in several passages had the game to spare - expelled Delgado from the field.
The Herons became emboldened and put the Galaxy against their goal, who tried to resist.
But at 92 minutes, Messi first wanted to leak, he gave it to Puig who 'returned it' as if they still played together at Barcelona.
La Pulga thanked him in the best way: he built a spectacular double wall in speed to the delirium of the fans who had come to see him.
Among them were other GOAT's like the Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic and Diana Lorena Taurasi, the WNBA legend, daughter of an Argentinian woman and who lived in Rosario - precisely - during the 90's.
Just some GOATs here to see another GOAT.
🐐 pic.twitter.com/ZVkQQqL9P6
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 26, 2024
McCarthy was the 246th goalkeeper to fall victim to Lionel Messi, while the Los Angeles Galaxy were the 144th team.
It was La Pulga's first goal in the new MLS season, which will have its next step on Saturday at home at Chase Stadium for the classic against Orlando.
Summary: this is how Lionel Messi played against the Los Angeles Galaxy
Lionel Messi Vs LA Galaxy pic.twitter.com/QZbbPZAllI
— Messi Xtra (@M30Xtra) February 26, 2024