FORT LAUDERDALE
\nLionel Messi made a Hollywood start to his American adventure, scoring a last-second winner with a curling free-kick in his debut game for Inter Miami on Friday.
\nDeep in the fourth minute of stoppage time, with the Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul standing at 1-1, Messi won a free-kick just outside the box, in perfect range for his famous left foot.
\nThe script had been written and Messi delivered his line perfectly.
\nThe seven-times Ballon d\u2019Or winner took a glance at the position of Cruz Azul goalkeeper Andres Gudino, then put his head down before curling his shot high to the keeper\u2019s right and into the top corner to deliver the 2-1 triumph.
\nThe capacity 20,000 crowd at Miami\u2019s DRV PNK Stadium went wild, with some fans running on to the field before being apprehended by security. Smoke bombs in Miami\u2019s trademark pink went off in the area behind the goal, occupied by the team\u2019s most passionate supporters.
\n\u201cWe wanted to start like this by giving these people a victory,\u201d said Messi.
\n\u201cWe knew that it was very important for us to start this championship in winning fashion and luckily we were able to do it in the end, and I am very happy,\u201d he added.
\nMiami are rock bottom of Major League Soccer and without a win in 11 games in league play, so Messi said the victory was sorely needed.
\n\u201cIt is a huge joy to get this first victory after how we have done in the league,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is important to start winning, beyond the fact that it is another championship, for confidence it is very good to get victories.\u201d
\nMiami and Major League Soccer hope that the arrival of the Argentine World Cup winner and all-time great will transform the sport and push it into the American mainstream.
\nIf Messi\u2019s debut was any guide, the former Barcelona star still has plenty to offer.
\nEven before his wonderful goal he had looked sharp and alert, his touch belying the fact that until little over a week ago he was vacationing on a Caribbean beach with his family.
\nSergio Busquets, the Spanish midfielder and former Barca team-mate, who has joined Messi for his American adventure, also made a strong impression after they both entered the contest in the 54th minute as part of a triple change with Venezuelan Josef Martinez.
\nBusquets showed his famous, almost telepathic understanding with Messi remains, after over two years apart from each other, with the midfielder delivering pieces from all angles into the Argentine\u2019s feet.
\nBut it was Messi\u2019s magical finish that will remain long in the memories of Inter Miami fans.
\nHe also made sure that the club\u2019s co-owner David Beckham had a broad grin at the final whistle.
\n\u201cTo be honest, as soon as I saw the free kick given I thought this is the way it\u2019s meant to end. Especially when you\u2019ve got players like Leo and Sergio on the pitch, that\u2019s what they produce,\u201d said the former England midfielder.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s so exciting tonight for our fans. All of these people that come down here to see Leo just step onto the pitch, let alone just do what he\u2019s done. It\u2019s a dream come true for everyone in this stadium to see.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s such a moment for this country, such a moment for this league,\u201d he said.
\nMessi became the biggest name signing in MLS\u2019s history when he joined Miami after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain came to an end in June.
\nNBA great LeBron James, reality television star Kim Kardashian and tennis legend Serena Williams were among the stars who turned out.
\nMany fans were decked out in replica pink Miami shirts with Messi\u2019s name and number 10 on the back. Others sported Messi masks and banners, one wore a goat mask in a nod to Messi\u2019s Greatest Of All Time status.
\nThere was some disappointment when the teams were announced with Messi on the bench and it was clear that plans had been made to celebrate his first start as fireworks exploded above the grandstands when the referee blew the whistle to start the encounter.
\nAgainst the run of play, after Cruz Azul wasted a series of chances, Miami took the lead in the 44th minute with a fine, low shot from Robert Taylor which flew off the post.
\nMessi and Busquets came in with that lead intact but saw the Mexicans draw level through a powerful drive from Uriel Antuna in the 65th minute.
\nThen came Messi\u2019s moment, the perfect introduction to his new fans and his new country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FORT LAUDERDALE Lionel Messi made a Hollywood start to his American adventure, scoring a last-second winner with a curling free-kick in his debut game for Inter Miami on Friday. Deep in the fourth minute of stoppage time, with the Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul standing at 1-1, Messi won a free-kick just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":336084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-344769","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n