Lionel Messi, Thomas Müller and Marco Reus each scored for their respective teams on MLS matchday 6 on Saturday evening – with very different results. For Messi, it was his first goal at Nu Stadium.
For ten years, Inter Miami had been looking for a permanent home – now the 26,700-capacity Nu Stadium celebrated its premiere. Co-owner David Beckham spoke enthusiastically after the festive inauguration of a “very special moment. It’s a dream come true for us.” Miami had previously played its home games in Fort Lauderdale.
It was fitting that none other than Lionel Messi equalized the visitors’ early lead (Guilhermo Biro, 6th) and thus provided the first Inter goal in the pretty arena near Miami’s airport. The 38-year-old initiated the attack himself from the six-man position, then ran through and headed in Fray’s cross (10th). A stand at the Nu Stadium, the “Leo Messi Stand”, is already named after the Argentinian.
Former Ulmer Nelson put Austin back in front on the counter-attack (53′), Luis Suarez saved a point for Miami late on (81′). Prior to that, two promising Messi solos (67th, 75th) had not led to success.
Whitecaps turn the game around late on
In a dramatic final phase, Thomas Müller helped his Vancouver Whitecaps to victory with a controversial penalty. Just when everything looked set for a home defeat against the Portland Timbers, the German scored his third goal of the season in stoppage time (90.+1) to make it 2:2. Sebastian Berhalter (90.+5) even scored the celebrated 3:2 winner for the Canadians. Mosquera (36) had first equalized Ocampo’s early Whitecaps lead (6) with a superb volley into the corner, while David Costa had put Portland 2:1 in front (45:+2).
The Whitecaps are second in the Western Conference after their fifth win. The San Jose Earthquakes, who won 3-0 against San Diego FC without Timo Werner, are equal third on points.
Marco Reus lost 2-1 to Minnesota United with Los Angeles Galaxy. The former international equalized in the 57th minute to make it 1-1, scoring for the second time this season. Ex-Augsburg player Kelvin Yeboah decided the game in Minnesota’s favor (67′). After six games this season, the Galaxy have just one win to their name.