The anticipation for the opening fixture of the 2024 MLS season proved rather anticlimactic, as neither Inter Miami nor Real Salt Lake sparkled in attack during the early exchanges.
A foul on Lionel Messi gave the 36-year-old a free kick in a promising position, but his fine effort was headed off the line by RSL’s Justen Glad. Many expected Messi or Luis Suarez to open the scoring, however, it was Finland’s Robert Taylor who gave the hosts a 1-0 halftime lead, capitalising on Messi’s through ball with keeper Zac MacMath making a hash of his save.
MacMath had previously pulled off some fabulous stops, but let in one he should really have kept out. Miami were somewhat careless after the break, fortunate that the likes of Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango and Pablo Ruiz were not sharp enough to convert promising openings.
The Herons sealed their 2-0 victory on the counterattack, with Paraguayan youngster Diego Gomez netting following a clever assist from Suarez. The win sees Miami top the early 2024 standings ahead of Sunday’s away trip to LA Galaxy, while RSL ready themselves for Saturday’s match at St Louis City.
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