Messi lit up Las Vegas

Argentine Tomás Avilés secured a 2-2 draw this Saturday for Inter Miami against the three-time Mexican champion America in a match where Lionel Messi He scored with a header and provoked, and Javier Mascherano made his debut with great feeling. The friendly at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas showed Messi in fine form and Mascherano was determined to implement a 4-3-3 as the main tactical playbook.

Henry Martín and Israel Reyes scored the goals for América, led by Brazilian André Jardine. The Mexican formation controlled the first half, but it was not easy for them to find the ‘open Sesame’ to penetrate the goal. In the 31st minute, the Mexican champions took advantage of a maneuver by Uruguayan Brian Rodríguez, who took debuting Argentine goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo from the goal and served for Martín’s goal.

Inter responded on the next play, with a counterattack where three former Barcelona players came together. Spaniard Jordi Alba, from left, sent a cross to the far post, where Uruguayan Luis Suárez put a cross past Messi, tying it 1-1 with a header in the 34th that minute.

América started the second half with seven changes that did not affect the team meeting because in the 52nd minute it resulted in 1-2 Jardine’s team came close to their third goal in the 64th minute, but the header by Néstor Araujo is not It is accurate. After that, Mascherano took Messi and Suárez off the field in the 65th minute, and Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in the 72nd minute.

With both teams full of substitutes, the match entered a period of mistakes and little offensive play until in the 92nd minute, a header from Tomás Áviles from a corner kick sealed the 2-2 tie.

Inter Miami begins its preseason tour on January 29 starting with a visit to Peruvian Universitario in Lima. América will continue its participation in the Clausura 2025 tournament, this January 25 against Santos Laguna.