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Messi scores first goal at expanded Club World Cup, leading Inter Miami to 2-1 win over Porto

Messi scores first goal at expanded Club World Cup, leading Inter Miami to 2-1 win over Porto

ATLANTA — Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on a patented free kick in the 54th minute to break a tie in Inter Miami's 2-1 victory over Porto on Thursday.
Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. With chants of 'Messi! Messi!' rocking Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 37-year-old Argentine star's left-footed blast cleared the wall and sailed into the top right corner.

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Youcef Belaili scores in Esperance's 1-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup

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Youcef Belaili scores in Esperance's 1-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Yousef Belaili scored in the 70th minute and Esperance de Tunisie beat LAFC 1-0 on Friday night in the Club World Cup to remain in contention to advance and eliminate the California MLS team. LAFC had one final chance to tie it in the 99th minute on Dénis Bouanaga's right-footed shot off a penalty kick just in front, but goalkeeper Béchir Ben Säid smothered it. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were in the crowd of 13,651 at 30,000-seat GEODIS Park on a steamy late afternoon. After a back-and-forth pace, Belaili came through with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner through goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' legs. Esperance will finish the round Tuesday night against Chelsea, with second place in Group D and a spot in the round of 16 on the line. Not only was LAFC eliminated, it has been shot out in both of its matches. LAFC had two goals wiped out by offsides in the first half. 'Overall, I didn't think we played well enough tonight to win,' LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. 'Gave us the feeling that we can keep playing,' said Esperance coach Maher Kanzari.

Fans of Argentinian club Boca Juniors take over South Florida during the Club World Cup
Fans of Argentinian club Boca Juniors take over South Florida during the Club World Cup

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time17 minutes ago

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Fans of Argentinian club Boca Juniors take over South Florida during the Club World Cup

Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans react ahead of the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Boca Juniors plays two of its three group-stage games of the Club World Cup in South Florida, and the Argentinian club's traveling fans have made their presence known. In the club's first game of the tournament, a 2-2 draw against Benfica, the announced attendance of 55,574 at Hard Rock Stadium was mostly Boca fans. Supporters of the club have been highly visible in Miami-Dade County, gathering on the beach in the thousands and singing in local Walmarts. Advertisement Sammy Icarina has supported Boca Juniors his whole life. 'I am a Boca fanatic. I'm 76 now, so imagine how long I've been a fan for. The minute the tickets came out I bought them,' Icarina told the Associated Press. The enthusiasm Boca has brought to the Club World Cup is known to those who love the team. 'It is always like this,' said Daniel Mata, who traveled from Argentina to watch. Silvana Gomez goes to Boca's home stadium in Buenos Aires, the Bombonera, frequently and says the traveling support is typical and expected. 'It's like this, always. Whether we go to Japan, Rio de Janeiro, wherever Boca plays we are always there,' Gomez said. Advertisement Miami-Dade police have been present and heavily equipped at the stadium's multiple checkpoints. New procedures have not posed any problem for the passionate Boca Juniors fans and no incidents have been reported at the venue. 'For now I think (the security) is five stars, everything has been good, the police, the security, everything,' Icarina said. Only Boca Juniors and one of the top clubs in the world, Real Madrid, have sold out their group-stage matches. On the sporting side, Boca Juniors and their continental counterparts have fared well against European and global powerhouses. There are six South American teams in this Club World Cup and they have all brought tens of thousands of fans to their games. Advertisement Ahead of Boca Juniors' Friday night match against Bayern Munich, South American clubs were undefeated in the expanded Club World Cup with wins against European powers Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea and ties against Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Porto. Although Boca has not won in five games, its fans will be vocal no matter what. ___ AP soccer:

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