Miami captain scored his team\u2019s first goal after David Beckham said the Nu Stadium was a \u2018dream come true\u2019 for Miami.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Published On 5 Apr 2026<\/span>5 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lionel Messi marked the opening of Inter Miami\u2019s gleaming new stadium with a goal as the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions battled to a 2-2 draw against Austin FC.<\/p>\n Inter Miami\u2019s co-owner, David Beckham, was among the star-studded crowd as the club\u2019s 26,000-capacity Nu Stadium made its debut on Saturday, marking the end of a more-than-a-decade-long journey to find a permanent home.<\/p>\n list of 4 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n \u201cTo see this stadium come to life, after years and years of trying to get this stadium up and running in Miami, is something that\u2019s very special,\u201d Beckham said shortly before kickoff.<\/p>\n \u201cI came to America in the MLS 20 years ago, and I made a lot of promises. And 13 years ago, I made a lot of promises again, announcing I was coming to Miami.<\/p>\n \u201cToday it\u2019s just a dream come true for us.\u201d<\/p>\n While the match kicked off in celebratory fashion, with Beckham joining billionaire Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas in a pre-game ribbon-cutting ceremony, Austin refused to follow the script.<\/p>\n The Texas club, who went into the game with only one win from five matches, stunned the home crowd after only six minutes, with Guilherme Biro nodding in a corner from Facundo Torres to make it 1-0 to the visitors.<\/p>\n Messi, though, did not take long to open his account in his new surroundings.<\/p>\n Right-back Ian Fray burst down the flank and crossed for Messi, who equalised with a rare headed goal to make it 1-1 four minutes later.<\/p>\n Inter Miami dominated possession thereafter and carved out a string of chances, with Mateo Silvetti twice going close with a shot in the 34th minute before heading wide four minutes later.<\/p>\n But Austin\u2019s dogged defence and speed on the counter continued to pose problems for the hosts, and they once again took the lead after 53 minutes.<\/p>\n Messi was dispossessed deep in the Austin half by Joseph Rosales, who released Myrto Uzuni, who in turn sent substitute Jayden Nelson clean through on goal to score.<\/p>\n With Miami increasingly desperate, coach Javier Mascherano sent on veteran striker Luis Suarez in the 73rd minute.<\/p>\n The Uruguayan duly delivered eight minutes later, prodding home from close range after a Messi corner was flicked on by German Berterame in the Austin defence.<\/p>\n Suarez thought he had scored a dramatic winner when he finished from close range after Messi\u2019s free-kick came back off the woodwork, but it was ruled out for offside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
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