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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Brilliant Lionel Messi free-kick leads Inter Miami past Porto while PSG are stunned at Club World Cup
Lionel Messi converted a delicious free-kick in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in a Group A match of the Fifa Club World Cup on Thursday afternoon. After Porto struck first through Samu Omorodion's penalty in the eighth minute, Marcelo Weigandt set up Telasco Segovia's equalising goal shortly after half-time. But Miami found the decisive moment in the second half as Messi scored the 68th free-kick of his illustrious career. The set piece was set up for Miami when Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora, following a run down the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting 'Messi!' Messi! Messi!' before his left-footed effort cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner. Both teams scored their first goals of the tournament, after Miami drew 0-0 with Al Ahly on Saturday and Porto had a similar stalemate against Palmeiras on Sunday. READ MORE After a VAR review, it was determined that Miami's Noah Allen committed a foul in the penalty area against João Mário, leading to Samu's penalty that was deflected by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and in for the game's opening goal. Samu (21), scored 19 goals in 30 Primeira Liga matches for the Portuguese side this past season. MESSI MAGIC ONCE AGAIN ☄️🐐 What a free kick from the goat at the FIFA Club World Cup. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) Miami levelled less than 90 seconds into the second half, as Weigandt's cross into the box was finished by Segovia, who fired in the equaliser past a sprawling Ramos. The MLS side then continued their great start to the second half, as Mora's foul led to Messi's successful free-kick – perfectly placed in the top corner. Inter Miami return to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up a spot in the Round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto close out group play against Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In the final match of the day, Brazil's Botafogo stunned European champions PSG 1-0 to throw Group B wide open. PSG dominated possession at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena but Botafogo's defence stood tall to withstand waves of attacks from the French side in the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. A turnover in midfield generated an opportunity for Igor Jesus, whose deflected shot left PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma flat-footed and only able to watch as the ball skipped into the net in the 36th minute. PSG continued to be the aggressors in the second half as Botafogo were content to protect their lead and try to capitalise on the break. PSG, who had scored 19 goals in their last five matches, had the ball in the net in the 79th minute but the goal was chalked off for offside and Botafogo held for the shock win. In the day's other games, Pablo Barrios' brace lifted Atlético Madrid to a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders, getting the Spanish side's Group B campaign back on track. José López scored in the 60th minute to lift Brazil's Palmeiras to a 2-0 victory over Egypt's Al Ahly in Group A on Thursday afternoon in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Weverton made two key saves to help Palmeiras keep a clean sheet.
Al Jazeera
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Messi inspires Inter Miami to win against Porto at Club World Cup
Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup with an exquisite free kick to inspire Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champions Porto. The Herons trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it 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 stars. Samu Omorodion scored on 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. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised his side's performance level against a side regarded as among the elite in Europe. 'We were working really, really hard against a team that have a lot of quality and a high level, but today, we showed to the world and to ourselves that we can compete against any team,' Inter's Argentinean manager said. 'This match, the first half was very, very good, also. The players understood that they can do it. When we are together, when we are next to our teammates, we can do something amazing.' Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting '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 returns to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up its spot in the Round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto closes out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Brilliant Lionel Messi free-kick leads Inter Miami past Porto at Club World Cup
Lionel Messi connected on a free kick in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in a Group A match of the Fifa Club World Cup on Thursday afternoon. After Porto struck first on Samu Aghehowa's penalty kick in the eighth minute, Marcelo Weigandt assisted on Telasco Segovia's game-tying goal in the 47th. Miami found its second goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half against Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos as Messi scored on the 68th free-kick goal of his illustrious career. The free-kick was set up for Miami when Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting '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. Each team netted their first goals of the tournament after Miami tied Al Ahly 0-0 on Saturday and Porto suffered the same result against Palmeiras on Sunday. After VAR review confirmation, it was determined that Miami's Noah Allen committed a tripping penalty in the box against Joao Mario, leading to Aghehowa's penalty goal that was deflected by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and in for the game's first goal in the eighth minute. Aghehowa, 21, had 19 goals in 30 Primeira Liga matches for the Portuguese side this past season. Miami knotted the score at one less than 90 seconds into the second half, as Weigandt's cross into the center of the box was finished by Segovia, who fired in the equalizing goal past a sprawling Ramos. Miami then continued its great start to the second half, as Porto's Rodrigo Mora's foul led to Messi's successful free kick – perfectly placed in the top right corner. Inter Miami returns to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up its spot in the Round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto closes out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Jose Lopez scored in the 60th minute to lift Brazil's Palmeiras to a 2-0 victory over Egypt's Al Ahly in Club World Cup Group A play on Thursday afternoon in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Weverton made two saves to help Palmeiras maintain the clean sheet. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion Palmeiras opened the scoring in the 49th minute following an own goal by Al Ahly's Wessam Abou Ali, who inadvertently headed home Anibal Moreno's free kick. Palmeiras doubled the advantage after Lopez sent a left-footed shot into the net following Mauricio's through ball. The match had a short delay in the 63rd minute 'because of severe weather in the area.' Both teams played to a scoreless draw in their first matches, with Palmeiras drawing even with Porto and Al Ahly doing the same with Inter Miami. Al Ahly's best chance to open the scoring in the first half came in the sixth minute, but Abou Ali's attempt from the center of the box sailed wide of the net. Yahya Attiat Allah's cross set up Abou Ali's attempt. Palmeiras' Estevao's left-footed shot from the center of the box sailed just wide to the right in the 18th minute. Palmeiras' Raphael Veiga initially received a red card for his sliding tackle to Zizo, but VAR ultimately downgraded it to a yellow upon review. Agustin Giay also received a yellow card in the 43rd minute. Al Ahly's Hamdi Fathy and Attiat Allah also were shown a yellow in the 42nd minute and in first-half stoppage time, respectively.
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Inter Miami 2 Porto 1: Messi's magical free kick lights up Club World Cup in comeback win
Lionel Messi lit up the Club World Cup with a vintage free-kick that sealed a 2-1 comeback win over Porto. In front of a 31,783-crowd at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (not bad with the game kicking off at 3pm local time on a Thursday), Porto led through a penalty inside 10 minutes before Telasco Segovia drew Miami level with a thumping finish. But then up stepped Messi just before the hour mark to place a brilliant free kick into the top corner. Advertisement Messi's presence has been key to FIFA's attempt to promote the tournament to the U.S. public and so the world governing body will be delighted with his headline goal. The win puts Miami on four points, level with Palmeiras, with Porto and Al Ahly on one point. Miami face Palmeiras and Porto play Al Ahly on June 24 with the top two teams progressing to the knockout stages. Here, Felipe Cardenas and Conor O'Neill analyse the action from Atlanta. Messi and beautifully struck free-kicks remain one of football's most enduringly breathtaking spectacles, and his latest brilliant effort capped a spirited second-half revival from Miami. Anyone of a Porto persuasion would have drawn a sharp breath when Messi won the set piece himself, crashing into Ze Pedro on the edge of the area. The penalty was perfectly positioned centrally on the edge of the D, a nightmare for Porto shotstopper Claudio Ramos who knew Messi had a clear view of both corners. Messi chose the right, curling a precise left-footed strike into the top corner, beyond Ramos's despairing dive, the ball nestling into the side netting. Besides his magical free-kick, Messi — who was named Superior Player of the Match — sparkled throughout, with everything filtering through the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. Despite injury concerns coming into the game, he was sharp from the start. Within the first two minutes, he picked up the ball on the right, drove into the half-space and floated a great cross into an offside Luis Suarez. His former Barcelona team-mate's sluggishness repeatedly let Messi's brilliance go to waste in the first half. Moments later, he chested down a high ball to take two Porto defenders out of the game, only for Suarez to be caught flat-footed as Messi threaded another incisive pass his way. Once again, Messi was the creative hub at the heart of Miami's best attacking moves. Advertisement Relying so much on one player, even one as freakishly talented as Messi, has its downsides with Miami looking structurally all over the place as the Argentinian was given freedom to roam. (He was also quite comically nutmegged towards the end of the game.) Still, when he produces moments of magic like this, it's hard to argue with the simplicity of the 'get it to Messi' approach. Conor O'Neill Miami wasn't supposed to be here. They didn't win the MLS Cup final and their Concacaf ranking or any other parameters weren't good enough to warrant a Club World Cup berth. But FIFA always reserves a host slot, and when Miami won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2024 (given to the team that earns the most regular season points), FIFA president Gianni Infantino had the loophole he needed. Miami and Messi are here and they may be around longer than many expected. Messi's clever free kick was a vintage strike. We've all seen the Argentine do that on numerous occasions. On Thursday in Atlanta, however, it sent shockwaves throughout the football world. Even with Messi, a five-year-old MLS club isn't supposed to take down a perennial UEFA Champions League club. Miami, with Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, and despite all their squad limitations (depth the primary issue), are a story that the Club World Cup needs. Felipe Cardenas Atlanta United, the local MLS side that calls Mercedes-Benz Stadium home, averages over 40,000 fans a game. When Messi has come with Miami for a regular-season match, or a pivotal playoff clash, the 72,000-seat stadium nearly sells out. The 2024 Copa America opener between Argentina and Canada boasted 70,000 fans, so why did so many people stay home during the Club World Cup? Advertisement Messi remains a major draw in any city he visits in the U.S., but national pride isn't on the line this summer. People won't skip work for what still feels like a summer friendly. Plus, the 32-team team Club World Cup is a novel idea that many Americans don't understand or don't care about. There isn't a large community of Portuguese expats in Atlanta, either. But while the empty seats may be an eyesore on television, inside the stadium the vibe was much different. The fans who are here were wide-eyed at the sight of Messi and the dome-shaped nature of the stadium made a for a decent atmosphere considering the attendance of 31,783. Felipe Cardenas For all of Messi's magic, Porto were poor again tonight. Martin Anselmi's side, like in the game against Palmeiras, were painfully slow in possession and careless in the final third. One small consolation was the bright display of centre-forward Samu Aghehowa, who netted a first-half penalty and offered a rare spark. Aside from the penalty Samu began the game sluggishly but became a dangerous threat as the contest wore on. Early on, he frequently lost the ball with loose touches in tight spaces. Porto's slow build-up did him few favours, allowing Miami to settle into a compact low block that restricted Samu's space. After shaking off this rustiness, he started stretching the Miami defence with his purposeful running in behind. Miami centre backs Ian Fray and Maximiliano Falcon struggled to cope with his physicality on the rare occasions when Porto went long. His combination play, particularly with the lively Rodrigo Mora, stood out with a slick backheel to Mora inside the box a highlight, whose shot was scrambled off the line by Falcon. Just before half-time, Samu finally had a chance to stretch those powerful legs. Picking up the ball in the left channel in his own half, he drove rapidly past the Miami defence, shrugged off Fray, and hit a low driven effort on target. Advertisement As Porto pushed for an equaliser, Samu continued to offer a threat up top, but was frustrated by his teammates' predictable passing and limited movement. But Samu's driving runs, dynamic movement, and smart link-up reminded us why Chelsea were so keen on him last summer. Conor O'Neill Monday, June 23: Palmeiras, Club World Cup group stage (Miami), 9pm ET, 2am (Tuesday) UK Monday, June 23: Al Ahly, Club World Cup group stage (East Rutherford), 9pm ET, 2am (Tuesday) UK You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game for free
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Messi scores first goal at expanded Club World Cup, giving Inter Miami lead over Porto
ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on Thursday with a patented free kick, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead over Porto. Messi, one of the biggest stars in the 32-team tournament, was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. With the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium chanting 'Messi!' over and over again, his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute. Inter Miami trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentine to shine. The Group A game between the MLS club and two-time European champion Porto was a crucial game in determining who advances to the knockout round from Group A. ___ AP soccer:
