Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys HIGHLIGHTS: MIA 1-1 NOB; Messi & Co end pre-season with draw

That’s the game! Spoils shared between the two sides and with that the gruelling pre-season for Inter Miami comes to an end. There’s a crowd of players surrounding Lionel Messi as he walks onto the pitch for the handshakes. He had just 60 minutes of action against his childhood club. Some moments of brilliance but nothing to get on the score sheet for the Argentine. A header from Borgelin seemed to have done the trick for Miami until a howler from its defence allowed Diaz to level the score in the closing minutes of the game.

That’s it from our side. Thank you for tuning in to the game.

Three minutes added on.

Robert Taylor’s free kick for Miami sails over the cross bar.

Fernandez gets the ball on the left edge of the box. He goes on a diagnol run and skips past multiple defenders before curling a shot at the far post. The shot is scuffed and the ball rolls into Callender’s arms.

Diaz lets one fly from a long distance. The ball flies straight into the hands of Callender.

Sunderland gives away the ball in the heart of the midfield. Diaz is lurking and grabs the loose ball. A simple one-on-one situation and the striker slots it past Callender to level the score.

SAVED! Campana is one-on-one with Hoyos and he tries to go for a chip shot. The keeper walks out of his line and expands his body to make the save.

Borgelin takes a shot from the right corner of the box. The ball goes straight into the man in front of him. There’s a cry or two for a handball but the referee waives play on.

Aviles goes down after getting a knock on his face while competing for an aerial ball.

Yedlin makes a run down the left wing. He gets a dink over the top and wins a corner for his side.

GOAL! INTER MIAMI LEADS!! Shanyder Borgelin rises the tallest to a header and sends it into the goal. A set piece breaks the deadlock!

Robert Taylor gets the ball inside the box on the left and sends it towards Alba at the edge of the box but the ball is deflected outside for a corner. 

Quick corner taken and it’s another corner for Miami. Similar situation again but this time Messi gets the ball and tries to finish from an awkward angle but the goalkeeper keeps the ball out

The match continues to be goalless. But the Newell attack looks threatening on the flanks

The first half comes to an end. Inter Miami has a corner and Lionel Messi tries to send it in the goal with an Olympico. Hoyos was not having any of it.

A cagey affair to begin with but Inter Miami has gained confidence as the game has progressed. Messi and Suarez looked to combine on multiple occasions. The final flourish still remains to be found but encouraging signs for the team.

Messi dinks the ball over the defence for Gomez. But the defender arrives in time to close out the space and eventually force Gomez to play it back to Messi. There is another man that sneaks in from behind and takes the ball off the Argentine.

SUAREZ! Messi reels in the defenders on him as he enters the final third. Suarez is free to his left and Messi plays the pass. Suarez decides to take it first time on the run and sends the ball over the post.

Suarez’s ball to Messi from the right side of the box is cleared.

WIDE! Messi takes the free kick. He gets the bend over the wall but the shot whizzes past the goal.

Another free kick for Inter Miami. Messi nutmegs Fernandez who manages to stop the ball but with his hand as he dives down on the pitch.

Aguirre concedes a free kick in the final third. A free kick for Inter Miami.

Newell’s already making a change. Looks like a forced one as Banega walks off the pitch. Matko comes in in place of him.

MESSI! Almost! The forward gets on his run, enters the box and squeezes in a shot from the centre. It crawls just wide of the far post.

SAVE! Callender makes another save. This time it is from Ramirez.

Yedlin gets in the way of a shot from Newell’s. Callender stands in goal to collect the ball and bring the attack to an end.

The referee decides against changing his original decision. No penalty for Inter Miami.

Suarez tries to combine for a one-two move on the edge of the penalty area. He goes down in the box and the VAR will have a look at it. WILL MIAMI HAVE A PENALTY HERE?

A scrappy spell of play as both sides concede free kicks. 

A shot for Newell’s. Calderara tries his luck from outside the box but misses the target.

Chance! Messi sets up a pass for Gomez who cannot beat the keeper.

Early attack from Inter Miami. It wins a corner and Freire gets his head to the set piece but off target.

Kick Off! The match gets underway at DRV-PNK Stadium.

It is not only Lionel Messi who faces his first club tonight. Tata Martino also started his playing career with the Lepers, making 488 appearances. He also won the Argentine first division three times with the side. Martino then went on to manage Newell’s Old Boys in 2012/13.

Inter Miami: Callender, Alba, Freire, Aviles, Yedlin, Gressel, Bright, Ruiz, Suarez, Messi (c), Gomez.

Newell’s Old Boys: Hoyos, Schott, Glavinovich, Vangioni, Calderara, Fernandez, Perez, Banega (c), Balzi, Ramirez, Aguirre.

The wait continues to see if Lionel Messi makes the cut for the starting XI of Inter Miami.

Coach Tata Martino confirmed on the match eve that Sergio Busquets will not be featuring in the starting lineup against Newell’s Old Boys. There are no imminent injury threats to the midfielder and he has been sidelined for precautionary reasons, Martino said in the pre-match press conference.

After keeping his game-time limited across Inter Miami’s pre-season tour which stretched from Saudi Arabia to Hong Kong, coach Tata Martino gave strong hints that Lionel Messi could walk out with the starting lineup.

Drew 0-0 vs Vissel Kobe

Won 4-1 vs Hong Kong XI

Lost 0-6 vs Al Nassr 

Lost 3-4 vs Al Hilal

Lost 0-1 vs FC Dallas

Inter Miami: Callender, Yedlin, Aviles, Allen, Alba, Gregore, Campana, Ruiz, Gressel, Suarez, Messi.

Newell’s Old Boys: Macagno, Mendez, Velasquez, Glavinovich, Martino, Diaz, Fernandez, May, Banega, Aguirre, Ramirez.

When will Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys match start?

The friendly between Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys will kick off on February 16, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. IST. In the United States, the game will commence at 7:30 p.m. ET on February 15.

Where to watch the Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys match in India?

The friendly between Inter Miami vs Newell’s Old Boys will not be broadcast in India. The match can be live streamed on Apple TV with an MLS season pass. There will be no other live streams in India.