Lionel Messi He played this Wednesday the last half hour for the Inter Miamiwhich closed its tour by Saudi Arabia and Japan with a friendly, in Tokyobefore him Vissel Kobe. It was a goalless draw and then a 4-3 defeat in a series of penalties.
Messiin full recovery from a muscle ailment (inflammation in the adductor), entered the match played at the National Stadium in Tokyo 14 minutes into the second half, replacing the Honduran David Ruiz and was about to score the winning goal.
The Rosario star entered the rival area and took a strong left-footed shot that was partially covered by the Japanese goalkeeper. Powell Obinna Obithen collected the rebound and finished again, this time from the right, but a defender from the Vissel Kobe avoided on the line what would have been the winning goal for the team led by Gerardo “Tata” Martino.
He Inter Miami had the Uruguayan from the beginning Luis Suarezto the Spanish Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets (he was injured) and the Argentine Tomas Avilesformer defender of racing.
As to Messihe looked very good in the minutes he played although he preferred not to participate in the execution of the penalties.
Messi He was very participatory, associating with the midfielders, filtered some passes with his style and almost scored, with the curiosity that he did not execute in the penalty shootout.
In the run-up to the meeting, Messi He received a visit from a former colleague in the Barcelonathe Spanish Andres Iniesta39 years old and current player of the Emirates Club of the UAE Pro League of the United Arab Emirates.
Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, Alba and “I fight” Suarez They took photos and remembered their times of maximum glory in the Barcelona.
As for the Inter Miamiconcluded in Tokyo a tour in which he visited four countries and played six games in 20 days. In friendlies, Messi He scored just one penalty goal and was absent in one match.
In this context, the Rosario coach’s team “Tata” Martino matched with the selected The Savior (0-0) in the city of Cuscatlanthen lost to him FC Dallas (1-0) in the Texas city, and then fell twice in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)versus Al-Hilal for a tight 4 to 3 and then before Al Nassr for a bulky 6 to 0 and where Messi He entered for a few minutes.
The star did not play in the victory of Inter Miami about Hong Kong All-Stars by 4 to 1 and on this day it was only there for the last half hour.
The next friendly match of Inter Miami It will be very special because it will face the Newell’s Old Boysthe team in which Messi started his career and of which he is a confessed fan.
That friendly will be on Thursday February 15 next in the stadium that the Inter Miami owns in Fort Lauderdalein Florida.
Source: Ambito
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