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Messi doesn't do magic: Club World Cup opener ends goalless in Miami!
Inter Miami and Al-Ahly will play a draw in the 2025 Club World Cup. Messi impresses with chances, but no goals.
Messi doesn't do magic: Club World Cup opener ends goalless in Miami!
The Club World Cup started with a rather disappointing game in Miami. The opener between Inter Miami and Al Ahly ended goalless and left the 60,927 spectators at the Hard Rock Stadium frustrated. Despite the presence of superstar Lionel Messi, both teams failed to score any goals, which was a bitter pill to swallow not only for the fans but also for the players. Loud Mainpost Al Ahly was the stronger team in the first half and even had the chance to convert a penalty. But Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari parried Trezeguet's shot, keeping his team in the game.
The second half began with a slowly becoming more active Messi, who fired a shot in the 57th minute and then created a promising opportunity for his teammate Marcelo Weigandt. However, a free kick from Messi in the 64th minute sailed past the outside of the net. The Argentine didn't let up, but ultimately failed in stoppage time with a curling shot that was directed over the crossbar by the Al Ahly goalkeeper Associated Press reported. In general, Inter Miami improved after the break, but could not score the decisive goals.
A look forward
The goalless division of points leaves both teams under pressure as strong rivals such as Palmeiras and Porto await in their group. Al Ahly attacker Wessam Abou Ali expressed disappointment with the result and believed they should have scored at least one goal in the first half. Inter Miami's coach, Javier Mascherano, sees this experience as a great opportunity to compete against teams that are not otherwise represented in their league.
For Lionel Messi, who was celebrated for Argentina after his triumphant 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, the game was a subpar performance. Although the superstar was praised by the media as a hero of the tournament and led his team to the World Cup title, little of his flair and wit was on display against Al Ahly. After the clash with Al Ahly, the next game will be exciting on Sunday when FC Bayern Munich takes on Auckland City from New Zealand. Borussia Dortmund are also in the starting blocks with a match against Fluminense of Brazil on Tuesday, further cementing the popularity of the Club World Cup in the world of football.