Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba celebrate after scoring their extra-time equalizer (Credit: X)
Messi and Alba created a moment of class as they teamed up on a counter to score a sensational equalizer against LA Galaxy to salvage a point for their side.
Timeless in transition yet again. Inter Miami teammates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba turned the clock back today as the duo linked up to score an exquisite extra-time equalizer, in classic Barcelona fashion, to help their side salvage a draw against the LA Galaxy.
LA Galaxy were in cruise control for most of the encounter and eventually clinched the lead with a strike from Serbian forward Dejan Joveljic in the 75th minute to put them in total control.
But, the tide would start to turn at around the 87th minute, when a rash tackle by midfielder Mark Delgado ended up with him receiving his second yellow card, thereby dismissing him from the field and knocking down the Galaxy to just 10 men.
This proved to be just enough breathing space for Miami, as Alba and Messi broke through the left flank and breezed through with the Spaniard ultimately laying off a killer pull-back into the path of Messi who, just about got to the end of it and poked the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his left foot.
The moment made fans and followers alike reminisce about the days of old Barcelona, a squad which included the likes of all four current Inter Miami teammates — Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets — at the absolute best.
But, in this occasion, all four stars, well past their thirties, looked out-of-sorts and stayed silent for most of their match against LA Galaxy up until their equalizer.
“We were outplayed in the first half, we could have gone into the dressing room a goal down,” said Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino at a post-match presser.
“They scored on a counter-attack but after that we showed character,” he added.
Inter Miami currently are on four points after winning Wednesday’s season opener against Real Salt Lake 2-0, and will be aiming to better their standings from last season where they finished at a dismal 14th place, second-last, in the league table.
