Inter Miami were held to a 0-0 draw by Vissel Kobe as Lionel Messi returned and Sergio Busquets was forced off injured.
Vissel Kobe were the dominant side in the first half and will rue their missed chances. The hosts hit the post and also saw Yuya Okaka blaze over with just the goalkeeper to beat after some poor defending. Inter Miami didn’t manage a single shot or corner in the first half and also lost Sergio Busquets to injury after a poor challenge from Okaka.
Inter Miami finally sparked into life when Tata Marino sent on Lionel Messi after an hour, with his every touch being cheered, but still needed a last-ditch tackle from DeAndre Yedlin to deny Jean Patrick, who was clean through on goal. Yet the presence of Messi improved Miami as an attacking force, with the Argentine twice going close in the closing stages, with one of the efforts being hacked off the line.
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Messi only played for half an hour but his every touch was greeted by cheers from fans who had come out to see the Inter Miami superstar in action and this time weren’t disappointed. The Herons didn’t manage a single shot on goal in the first half but looked a different side altogether once Messi was on the pitch and pulling the strings. The Argentina international almost won it late on too on his return from injury. He saw an effort saved by goalkeeper Powell Obinna Obi and his follow-up effort was then cleared off the line by some desperate Vissel Kobe defending.
THE BIG LOSER
Sergio Busquets‘ match was cut short by a crunching tackle by Yuya Okaka that forced the midfielder off midway through the first half. Inter Miami will have been relieved to see Busquets able to walk off the pitch unaided but now face an anxious wait to see if he will be forced onto the sidelines ahead of the start of the new MLS season.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Inter Miami will return to the United States now before a final pre-season friendly against Newell’s Old Boys. The Herons will then prepare for their first MLS game of the season on February 21 against Real Salt Lake.
Stop it Leo pic.twitter.com/ZmjIJdwwJ7
— Leo Messi 🔟 Fan Club (@WeAreMessi) February 7, 2024
