A crowd of 42,000 showed up at Raymond James Stadium Friday night for Inter Miami’s final preseason game against Orlando City and based on the sea of pink No. 10 shirts, many of the fans were there to show love for Lionel Messi on Valentine’s Day.
They saw an entertaining game that ended in a 2-2 tie. The Miami equalizer was scored by Fafa Picault in the third minute of extra time on a right-footed shot from close range after a Robert Taylor shot rebounded off an Orlando defender at the goal line.
Inter Miami finished the preseason undefeated through five games under Mascherano, who replaced Tata Martino after his unexpected departure in late November. Miami won the Supporters Shield last season after the best regular season record in MLS history, but the team fell short in the playoffs, losing in the first round to Atlanta United.
Through the five preseason games Miami scored 12 goals and conceded five. Messi, Picault and Allende each scored two goals.
“It was one of the best crowds we’ve had here in the U.S., it was exciting to be here on the other side of Florida,” said Miami forward Leo Afonso. “We started preseason winning and it was good to finish tying the game. We still have a lot of work to do. There were guys who started [Friday] who had not started before, so there are still moving pieces with the team.”
Afonso added that he still pinches himself every time he drives to training, realizing that he is Messi’s teammate.
Inter Miami fell behind early Friday against Orlando on a goal by Martin Ojeda at the 15-minute mark after a Miami defensive lapse, but Miami equalized seven minutes later when Luis Suarez found Argentine newcomer Tadeo Allende, who knocked it in from the right side at a difficult angle.
The 25-year-old Allende joined Inter Miami on loan from Spanish club Celta Vigo last month. It was the fifth assist for Suarez in five preseason games.
“Messi! Messi!” the crowd chanted every time the Argentine captain’s feet touched the ball, but he failed to score before exiting in the 75th minute to a loud ovation.
Inter Miami was trailing by that point after a poor clearance by defender David Martinez led to a goal by Orlando’s Ramiro Enrique in the 54th minute. Noah Allen replaced Martinez immediately after that goal.
There has been much talk this preseason about shoring up the defense, but Miami’s back line was caught off guard and flat footed on a few occasions against Orlando.
Messi was joined in the starting lineup by Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Yannick Bright, Martinez, Marcelo Weigandt, Oscar Ustari, and newcomers Gonzalo Lujan, Allende, and Telasco Segovia, the 21-year-old Venezuelan midfielder, who was making his MLS debut after joining the team from Portuguese club Casa Pia. Miami dominated the first half, controlling possession 59 percent to 41 percent.
Miami took eight shots, three on frame. Orlando took six, with two on goal.
Coach Javier Mascherano kept most of his starters in for at least 64 minutes before making changes. Fede Redondo replaced Busquets, Ian Fray replaced Lujan due to an injury, and Picault came in for Segovia in the first wave of substitutions. The next wave came in the 75th minute: Santi Morales for Messi, Robert Taylor for Allende, and Benja Cremaschi for Bright. Leo Afonso went in for Suarez two minutes later.
Mascherano said in the leadup to the game that it was important to manage minutes carefully, as he wanted his players game-sharp for the start of official competitions next week, but at the same time, did not want them to expend too much energy.
Inter Miami plays its Concacaf Champions Cup opening match on the road Tuesday against Sporting Kansas City in what will likely be the coldest game in team history as the weather forecast is a high of 5 degrees at kickoff.
Then it’s back home to warm Fort Lauderdale for the MLS season opener four days later, on Feb. 22, against New York City FC, and then the second leg of the Champions Cup three nights later at home on Feb. 25.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender was expected to return to the lineup on Friday night after missing the entire preseason with an adductor injury, but he was not fully recovered, according to a team spokesperson, and he did not make the trip. Oscar Ustari started in goal and made two big saves, including one on a point blank shot by 16-year-old Gustavo Caraballo.
David Ruiz and Tomas Aviles are dealing with medical issues and did not travel.
