Inter Miami opens 2024 MLS season campaign with victory
Inter Miami CF opens the 2024 MLS season with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in their new name venue, Chase Stadium.
Photo by: Gasner Delvarin Jr.
Inter Miami CF forward Robert Taylor
Marnery St Fort, editor
February 22, 2024
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Inter Miami CF marked the inaugural match of the 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake under the new rights partnership venue at Chase Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Captain Lionel Messi and the attacker Luis Suárez, who made his debut, each provided an assist, respectively, to attacker Robert Taylor and midfielder Diego Gómez, who registered their first goals of the season.
Inter Miami took an early initiative, with Messi attempting two significant shots in the 17th minute, including a curled free kick that forced a goal-line clearance from Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad.
In the 39th minute, Messi led an attack from the midfield and delivered a through ball to Taylor, striking the ball on target to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead despite the goalie touching the ball.
As the match progressed into the second half, the energy levels of the Miami players seemed to decline. However, in the 83rd minute, the team initiated a triangle attack with Messi on the ball, who passed it to Suárez on the left side and executed a touch pass for an assist as Gómez finished with the right foot off the sequence, giving Miami the 2-0 victory in the opening night.
Miami only controlled the match with 51.1% ball possession and Real Salt Lake with 48.9%. But Miami created more panic in the attack, with Salt Lake saving 6 shots on target against Miami saving 2.
“I think they played a good game in the first half, and above all, we didn't suffer defensively. We could have scored one more goal," said Inter Miami head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino. "I think that we have to continue building week by week."
Inter Miami CF will travel for the first time this season for an away match against LA Galaxy on Sunday, February 25, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Dignity Health Sports Park.