Lionel Messi scores winner as Inter Miami beats Porto in FIFA Club World Cup
Lionel Messi has scored the winner as Inter Miami claimed its first-ever victory in FIFA's bloated and controversial Club World Cup.
Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora after he scythed his way down the middle of the field on Friday (AEDT).
With chants of "Messi! Messi!" rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the 37-year-old Argentine star's left-footed blast cleared the wall and sailed into the top right corner.
Inter Miami had earlier equalised thanks to Telasco Segovia's goal two minutes into the second half.
Porto had struck first thanks to a contentious Samu Aghehowa penalty in just the eighth minute.
Both teams came into the contest after 0-0 draws, Miami held by Cairo-based Al Ahly on Saturday and Porto suffered the same result against Palmeiras on Sunday.
Messi's goal continued his good form in the calendar year.
Though the team has had a slow start, he has 10 goals and seven assists in 12 starts.
It felt like a home game for Miami, with an overwhelmingly pink crowd in Atlanta.
With Messi's 38th birthday less than a week away, his continued success is a positive sign for fans, including the thousands wearing his number 10 jerseys inside the stadium, that his retirement is not imminent.
ABC/wires
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
GAME 7 Locked In! Pacers Dominate OKC
NBA: The Indiana Pacers have smashed the OKC Thunder in a dominant game 6 to set up the first NBA Finals game 7 since 2016.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Ageless superstar Messi steers Inter Miami, PSG upset
Lionel Messi has scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup from an exquisite free kick, lifting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto. But the upset of the day belonged to Botafago, who upstaged Paris St Germain 1-0 at the Rose Bowl. Igor Jesus scored late in the first half for the South American champions, who withstood a tense second half while moving atop their group at 2-0-0. PSG hadn't lost in any competition since May 3, but the European champions looked understandably weary at times before a lively crowd of 53,699. Inter Miami, meanwhile, trailed 1-0 at the break but Telasco Segovia levelled matters two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he'll go down as one of the game's greatest ever. Samu Omorodion scored from a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament. Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches. Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora during a run from the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanted "Messi!" Messi! Messi!" before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute. Inter Miami return to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up their spot in the round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto will close out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Earlier, Palmeiras beat Egyptian club Al Ahly 2-0 at the MetLife Stadium, with the game interrupted during the second half because of the threat of lightning in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Brazilians had seen forward Raphael Veiga shown a straight red card by English referee Anthony Taylor in the 37th minute following a high challenge on Al Ahly winger Zizo. However, after being advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Taylor changed his decision to issue only a yellow card. Palmeiras broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half through an own goal when Al Ahly forward Wessam Abou Ali headed a deep free-kick into the top corner of his own net before substitute Flaco Lopez broke clear to double the lead just ahead of the hour. With thunderstorms looming, the players were soon signalled to come off as the match was suspended in the 63rd minute. A notice was displayed on the stadium's big screen, directing all spectators to leave the seated bowl area and take shelter inside "for your safety" because of "severe weather in the area". Palmeiras went on to close out a first win that put them level on four points with Inter Miami ahead of their final group game at the Hard Rock Stadium on June 24. In Pasadena, Jesus's stunning score in the 36th minute was the first goal allowed since May 17 by PSG, who routed Atlético Madrid 4-0 last Sunday. The French powerhouse had outscored their last three opponents by a combined 12-0, winning the French Cup and the Champions League final along the way. Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembélé missed his second straight game for PSG with a quadriceps injury. His teammates still dominated possession in the first half, even though coach Luis Enrique rotated his starting lineup. Everything came undone with the remarkable individual effort by Jesus, the Brazilian striker reportedly headed for Nottingham Forest next season. PSG finished with 16 shot attempts to Botafogo's four, but all four were on target, whereas PSG only got two on net. Jesus controlled Jefferson Savarino's long pass, beat two defenders and thumped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. He leapt over a barrier and up onto the front row of the Rose Bowl stands to celebrate with Botafogo's ecstatic supporters. PSG had little of the sublime connective play that characterised their stellar run over the past month, but Enrique's club is still in a strong position to advance as they head to Seattle on Monday to play Major League Soccer's Sounders. with PA Lionel Messi has scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup from an exquisite free kick, lifting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto. But the upset of the day belonged to Botafago, who upstaged Paris St Germain 1-0 at the Rose Bowl. Igor Jesus scored late in the first half for the South American champions, who withstood a tense second half while moving atop their group at 2-0-0. PSG hadn't lost in any competition since May 3, but the European champions looked understandably weary at times before a lively crowd of 53,699. Inter Miami, meanwhile, trailed 1-0 at the break but Telasco Segovia levelled matters two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he'll go down as one of the game's greatest ever. Samu Omorodion scored from a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament. Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches. Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora during a run from the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanted "Messi!" Messi! Messi!" before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute. Inter Miami return to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up their spot in the round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto will close out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Earlier, Palmeiras beat Egyptian club Al Ahly 2-0 at the MetLife Stadium, with the game interrupted during the second half because of the threat of lightning in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Brazilians had seen forward Raphael Veiga shown a straight red card by English referee Anthony Taylor in the 37th minute following a high challenge on Al Ahly winger Zizo. However, after being advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Taylor changed his decision to issue only a yellow card. Palmeiras broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half through an own goal when Al Ahly forward Wessam Abou Ali headed a deep free-kick into the top corner of his own net before substitute Flaco Lopez broke clear to double the lead just ahead of the hour. With thunderstorms looming, the players were soon signalled to come off as the match was suspended in the 63rd minute. A notice was displayed on the stadium's big screen, directing all spectators to leave the seated bowl area and take shelter inside "for your safety" because of "severe weather in the area". Palmeiras went on to close out a first win that put them level on four points with Inter Miami ahead of their final group game at the Hard Rock Stadium on June 24. In Pasadena, Jesus's stunning score in the 36th minute was the first goal allowed since May 17 by PSG, who routed Atlético Madrid 4-0 last Sunday. The French powerhouse had outscored their last three opponents by a combined 12-0, winning the French Cup and the Champions League final along the way. Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembélé missed his second straight game for PSG with a quadriceps injury. His teammates still dominated possession in the first half, even though coach Luis Enrique rotated his starting lineup. Everything came undone with the remarkable individual effort by Jesus, the Brazilian striker reportedly headed for Nottingham Forest next season. PSG finished with 16 shot attempts to Botafogo's four, but all four were on target, whereas PSG only got two on net. Jesus controlled Jefferson Savarino's long pass, beat two defenders and thumped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. He leapt over a barrier and up onto the front row of the Rose Bowl stands to celebrate with Botafogo's ecstatic supporters. PSG had little of the sublime connective play that characterised their stellar run over the past month, but Enrique's club is still in a strong position to advance as they head to Seattle on Monday to play Major League Soccer's Sounders. with PA Lionel Messi has scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup from an exquisite free kick, lifting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto. But the upset of the day belonged to Botafago, who upstaged Paris St Germain 1-0 at the Rose Bowl. Igor Jesus scored late in the first half for the South American champions, who withstood a tense second half while moving atop their group at 2-0-0. PSG hadn't lost in any competition since May 3, but the European champions looked understandably weary at times before a lively crowd of 53,699. Inter Miami, meanwhile, trailed 1-0 at the break but Telasco Segovia levelled matters two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he'll go down as one of the game's greatest ever. Samu Omorodion scored from a penalty kick in the opening minutes after a video review for the Portuguese club's first goal of the tournament. Both teams were held to scoreless draws in their opening Group A matches. Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora during a run from the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanted "Messi!" Messi! Messi!" before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute. Inter Miami return to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up their spot in the round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto will close out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Earlier, Palmeiras beat Egyptian club Al Ahly 2-0 at the MetLife Stadium, with the game interrupted during the second half because of the threat of lightning in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Brazilians had seen forward Raphael Veiga shown a straight red card by English referee Anthony Taylor in the 37th minute following a high challenge on Al Ahly winger Zizo. However, after being advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, Taylor changed his decision to issue only a yellow card. Palmeiras broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half through an own goal when Al Ahly forward Wessam Abou Ali headed a deep free-kick into the top corner of his own net before substitute Flaco Lopez broke clear to double the lead just ahead of the hour. With thunderstorms looming, the players were soon signalled to come off as the match was suspended in the 63rd minute. A notice was displayed on the stadium's big screen, directing all spectators to leave the seated bowl area and take shelter inside "for your safety" because of "severe weather in the area". Palmeiras went on to close out a first win that put them level on four points with Inter Miami ahead of their final group game at the Hard Rock Stadium on June 24. In Pasadena, Jesus's stunning score in the 36th minute was the first goal allowed since May 17 by PSG, who routed Atlético Madrid 4-0 last Sunday. The French powerhouse had outscored their last three opponents by a combined 12-0, winning the French Cup and the Champions League final along the way. Ballon d'Or contender Ousmane Dembélé missed his second straight game for PSG with a quadriceps injury. His teammates still dominated possession in the first half, even though coach Luis Enrique rotated his starting lineup. Everything came undone with the remarkable individual effort by Jesus, the Brazilian striker reportedly headed for Nottingham Forest next season. PSG finished with 16 shot attempts to Botafogo's four, but all four were on target, whereas PSG only got two on net. Jesus controlled Jefferson Savarino's long pass, beat two defenders and thumped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. He leapt over a barrier and up onto the front row of the Rose Bowl stands to celebrate with Botafogo's ecstatic supporters. PSG had little of the sublime connective play that characterised their stellar run over the past month, but Enrique's club is still in a strong position to advance as they head to Seattle on Monday to play Major League Soccer's Sounders. with PA
ABC News
16 hours ago
- ABC News
Indiana Pacers beat OKC Thunder in NBA Finals to force Game 7
The Indiana Pacers have evened the NBA Finals with a 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 in Indianapolis. The series will go to a winner-take-all seventh game for the first time since 2016, with Game Seven in Oklahoma City on Monday morning (AEST). There was little drama on Thursday, with Indiana jumping ahead in the first quarter and never relinquishing the lead, aided largely by Obi Toppin's 20 points off the bench. Andrew Nembhard added 17 points while Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds to move the Pacers within one win of their first NBA title. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points, but had a play-off career-worst eight turnovers and just two assists. Jalen Williams, who scored 40 points in Game 5, finished with just 16 points. Trailing by 30 entering the final quarter, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault pulled his starters, opting to save them for Game 7. Oklahoma City shot just 8/30 (26.7 per cent) from beyond the arc — 1/11 in the first half. The Thunder put up their lowest point total of the regular season or post-season. Their previous low was 92 in a second-round Game 4 over the Denver Nuggets. A number of former Indiana stars were in the stands to watch, including Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, Ron Artest and Lance Stephenson. The victory sends the finals to a decider for the first time in nine years, when LeBron James's Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a stunning comeback from 3-1 down to beat the 73-win Golden State Warriors. Reuters
