The Week 6 clash in the MLS saw Austin FC and Inter Miami battle to a 2-2 draw.
Austin FC took the lead early in the first half with a header from Guilherme Biro just 5 minutes into the match. However, Inter Miami responded quickly, leveling the score at 1-1 with a header by Lionel Messi in the 9th minute.
The second half brought another goal for Austin FC as Jayden Nelson netted a fantastic shot from the edge of the box, assisted by Myrto Uzuni, at the 52nd minute. The game took another twist when Luis Suárez struck for Inter Miami, bringing the score to 2-2 in the 81st minute with a well-placed shot.
Despite dominating possession and attempting numerous shots, Inter Miami faced a frustrating match, with statistics showing they directed 12 shots on goal, hit the post once, and missed 13 attempts.
Lionel Messi was the standout performer, contributing significantly with 1 goal, completing 49 successful passes, and having 11 shots at goal.
Jayden Nelson also shone for Austin FC, scoring 1 goal and making 10 accurate passes, proving vital for his team’s performance.
On the tactical front, Inter Miami’s coach, Javier Mascherano, deployed a 4-5-1 formation with Dayne St. Clair starting as goalkeeper, backed by a defense comprising Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcón, Micael, and Noah Allen. The midfield featured David Ayala, Rodrigo De Paul, Mateo Silvetti, Lionel Messi, and Telasco Segovia, with Tadeo Allende leading the attack.
Nicolás Estévez, head coach of Austin FC, opted for a 4-4-2 setup, with Brad Stuver guarding the goal, flanked by Jon Gallagher, Oleksandr Svatok, Brendan Hines-Ike, and Guilherme Biro in defense. The midfield included Facundo Torres, Nicolás Dubersarsky, Ilie Sánchez, and Joseph Rosales, supported by forwards Christian Ramírez and Myrto Uzuni.
The match was officiated by referee Allen Chapman in Miami Freedom Park.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami is set to host New York Red Bulls in their next match, while Austin FC will play at home against LA Galaxy.
Substitutions for Inter Miami
57’ 2H – Noah Allen for Germán Berterame
58’ 2H – David Ayala for Yannick Bright
72’ 2H – Telasco Segovia for Luis Suárez
86’ 2H – Mateo Silvetti for Daniel Pinter
Yellow Cards for Inter Miami:
42’ 1H – Maximiliano Falcón (Unsporting Behavior) and 15’ 2H – Yannick Bright (Unsporting Behavior)
Substitutions for Austin FC
45’ 2H – Facundo Torres for Jayden Nelson and Ian Fray for Gonzalo Luján
67’ 2H – Guilherme Biro for Jonathan Bell and Ilie Sánchez for Besard Sabovic
75’ 2H – Christian Ramírez for Calvin Fodrey
79’ 2H – Joseph Rosales for Zan Kolmanic