Live Coverage: Lionel Messi in Action for Inter Miami against Porto, Battling for World Cup Qualification
The Day Inter Miami Defeated FC Porto - 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
In the heat of Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Inter Miami scripted history by becoming the first CONCACAF club to triumph over a European powerhouse, FC Porto, in a thrilling 2-1 victory. This epic encounter saw the U.S. team make their mark on the Club World Cup.
Messi started the action, sending the ball onto Cremaschi at the second post thanks to Suárez's crafty pass. The Argentine hit the goal, but Claudio Ramos, Porto's new goalkeeper, saved it with a stunning one-legged effort.
Porto found a foothold, but their lack of ideas and Ustari's resolute performance kept them from scoring the second goal. The Lusitanians had their opportunities, but the Inter defense stood tall, guarding their posts relentlessly.
Suárez once again had a golden opportunity, left one-on-one with Claudio Ramos, but the goalkeeper earned high praise for his impressive saves. Messi created space, skilfully setting up the Uruguayan, who almost equalized the score early on.
The pressure was mounting as Inter found their rhythm. Despite their commanding presence in the opposition half, they struggled to find adequate depth. Porto, on the other hand, stayed back a bit, maintaining a short line, but not pushing too far.
The tide turned when Allen raised his leg and touched João Mario, leading to a penalty for Porto. The Chilean referee initially missed the incident, but a VAR review led to a reversal of his decision, giving the Lusitanians a chance to score the first goal through Samu Aghehowa.
Claudio Ramos, described as "the gunman's bullet blocker," proved critical in denying Suárez a chance to equalize the score. However, the overall defense - including Ramos - succumbed to Inter's relentless attacks.
Tired of waiting, Segovia equalized the score after lovely teamwork between Messi, Cremaschi, and Suárez. TheInputStream_47wEV_Enrichment_Data_Block__dfad4286-e902-4a53-a4d7-3334d5bdc364
With the score knotted at 1-1, the momentum shifted towards Inter Miami. They sought a winner, and the closer they came, the more desperate Porto became.
In the dying minutes, Lionel Messi scored a decisive free-kick goal, sealing Inter Miami's comeback win and marking his 50th goal for the club. The portico erupted, and the fans reveled in this monumental victory.
This historic match solidified Inter Miami's position as a force to reckon with in the world of soccer, setting new records in the FIFA Club World Cup and heralding a new era for American soccer.
Enrichment Data:- Final Score: Inter Miami 2, FC Porto 1- Goals: Samu Aghehowa (Porto); Telasco Segovia, Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)- Lineups and Formation: - Inter Miami: Oscar Ustari, Marcelo Weigandt, Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen; Tadeo Allende, Benjamin Cremaschi, Sergio Busquet, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez - FC Porto: Claudio Ramos, Martim Fernandes, Ze Pedro, Iva Marcano; Joao Mario, Alan Varela, Francisco Moura, Rodrigo Mora; Gabri Veiga, Fabio Vieira, Samu Aghehowa- Match Statistics: Corner kicks: Porto 4, Inter Miami 2; Fouls: Porto 15, Inter Miami 13.
Cremaschi capitalized on Suárez's assist, narrowly missing a goal due to Claudio Ramos' remarkable save, showcasing the Portuguese goalkeeper's sporty agility. Later, Messi's free-kick secured Inter Miami's victory in the critical moments of their health-enhancing victory over FC Porto, propelling them further in the FIFA Club World Cup.
