Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF scores the group’s second objective in the course of the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025 group A match between Internacional CF Miami and FC Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP
ATLANTA: Lionel Messi related on a free kick within the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in a Group A match of the FIFA Membership World Cup on Thursday afternoon.
After Porto struck first on Samu Aghehowa’s penalty kick within the eighth minute, Marcelo Weigandt assisted on Telasco Segovia’s game-tying objective within the forty seventh.
Miami discovered its second objective within the first 10 minutes of the second half towards Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos as Messi scored on the 68th free-kick objective of his illustrious profession.
Every group netted their first objectives of the match after Miami tied Al Ahly 0-0 on Saturday and Porto suffered the identical end result towards Palmeiras on Sunday.
After VAR evaluation affirmation, it was decided that Miami’s Noah Allen dedicated a tripping penalty within the field towards Joao Mario, resulting in Aghehowa’s penalty objective that was deflected by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and in for the sport’s first objective within the eighth minute.
Aghehowa, 21, had 19 objectives in 30 Primeira Liga matches for the Portuguese aspect this previous season.
Miami knotted the rating at one lower than 90 seconds into the second half, as Weigandt’s cross into the middle of the field was completed by Segovia, who fired within the equalizing objective previous a sprawling Ramos.
The Main League Soccer aspect then continued its nice begin to the second half, as Porto’s Rodrigo Mora’s foul led to Messi’s profitable free kick — completely positioned within the prime proper nook within the 54th minute.
Regardless of Porto tallying 14 pictures on objective to Miami’s six, 5 of Miami’s had been on objective opposed to only three from Porto.
Ramos — a longtime Portuguese goalkeeper for Porto — completed with three saves after making 4 saves within the match opener towards Palmeiras. Ustari — in his second season for Miami — made only one save after a unprecedented efficiency towards Al Ahly, wherein he made eight saves.
