Allegiant Stadium – Inter Miami kicked off its 2025 preseason debut against Club America and it felt more than a friendly match between the two clubs. The Mexican juggernaut controlled the game with ball possession and fast transitions early in the game and took the lead in the 31st minute with a Henry Martin tap-in of a Brian Rodriguez pass. The Herons answered only three minutes later in an unlikely way, a Lionel Messi header of a pass from Luis Suarez.
The GOAT 🐐 gets his first for 2025 with a header to tie the match..
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 19, 2025
America retook the lead when a Miami mix-up led to an Israel Reyes score in the 53rd minute. Miami’s newly acquired goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo ran into his defender while attempting to trap a cross into the box and lost control of the ball. The ensuing scuffle for the loose ball ended with Reyes kicking it past Rios Novo. Club America took the 2-1 lead and held on until the last seconds of the game.
Julian Gressel served a fabulous corner kick cross in the match’s dying moments, and Toto Aviles headed the ball in to tie the game in dramatic fashion. The squads headed to penalty kicks to settle a winner.
Toto Aviles with the big header to tie the match in the final seconds of play…The game is headed to penalties…#MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 19, 2025
The penalty kick shoot-out saw several veteran players miss shots on both sides, but a debuting 17-year-old stole the show with his cheeky winning shot. Santiago Morales had a dream debut, scoring the game-winner and receiving hugs from all his teammates, and his dad, assistant coach Javier Morales.
Santiago Morales, the youngster showed he has ice in his veins … The future star ⭐️ converts the winning penalty kick for #InterMiamiCF to down Club America …
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 19, 2025
A positive start for Inter MiamiCF and Head Coach Javier Mascherano in 2025. The Herons continue their preseason tour in Peru with a January 29th match versus Peruvian First Division back-to-back champions, Club Universitario de Deportes. Expect to see some of the new faces on the pitch for Miami.
The Herons learned their lesson from last year’s failed preseason tour that generated merchandise sales but also lots of issues for #InterMiamiCF … This tour is much less rigorous on the traveling yet has quality opponents…I’m sure #Messi is happy…#MLS pic.twitter.com/KboX7pv77V
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 10, 2025
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