In the many weeks leading up to the Florida Derby preseason exhibition between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC, the big question was, “Will Messi play?”
Inter coach Javier Mascherano put the speculation to rest last Wednesday, and on Friday night, in front of a record 42,017 fans Messi took to the pitch among chanting fans. Attendance was the most ever for a soccer match at Raymond James Stadium.
Fans—draped in his No. 10 jersey and wearing Inter pink in their braids—cheering for every goal the 37-year-old World Cup champ scored during warm-up made it clear: they were there to see the GOAT. Mascherano fully rewarded them, too, with 75 minutes of the magisterial Messi.
The game started out with Miami controlling the play and possession; Messi had his first real go at the goal within five-and-a-half minutes as his shot attempt from inside of the box was deflected out for a Miami corner kick. The Herons controlled possession and seemed bound to score until a foul was called on Messi in the 15th minute.
And it was the other No. 10 that opened the scoring.
After the foul, Orlando quickly executed a counter attack with a long ball that found Iván Angulo who played it to Argentinian Martín Ojeda, who calmly chipped Miami keeper Oscar Ustari to score the match’s first goal.
Despite the Lions goal, Miami continued to dominate, and Messi got another chance when a free kick was awarded at the top of the box. His left-footed attempt missed just high of the left upper corner of the goal. Continuing to press, Miami was finally rewarded with a quick give-and-go play that found Luis Suarez helping La Liga export Tadeo Allende find the back of the net to equalize.
Throughout the first half, the Messi-Suarez connection of old was burning bright with numerous dazzling efforts from the duo that tallied nearly 100 goals together during six seasons together for La Liga legend Barcelona.
One exchange saw Messi play a through ball to Suarez who chipped the goalie to find the back of the net, only to be called offsides. Suarez also nearly scored on a volley from a ball crossed in from the left midfielder.
The half came to a close with perhaps the best opportunity of the night for Messi when Suarez played a through ball, which Messi tried to dink over Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese who pulled off a Statue of Liberty save to keep the game at 1-1.
Fans were pleased to see Messi still in the game to start a second half that proved to be much more evenly-matched, with Orlando creating more chances for itself.
But in the 50th minute, Miami was awarded yet another free kick just at the top of the box. This time Messi hit a low driven ball towards the goal and missed just wide right. The match was back and forth until Orlando’s first-half goal-scorer Ojeda capitalized on a missed ball by Miami defender David Martinez. Ojeda passed the ball to teammate Ramiro Enrique who secured the goal and gave City a 2-1 lead.
The stadium, still entranced by the most famous athlete in the galaxy, then started chanting “Let’s go Messi,” hoping for a goal by the GOAT. The energy in an arena really changes anytime he gets a touch on the ball.
Messi had a couple more chances on the night including a header on goal in the 75th minute, but his evening came to an end with cheers as he left the field—leading many fans to head for the exits, too.
Those who stayed were in for a treat.
Orlando had an excellent opportunity to go up by two with an 82nd-minute volley that was saved by Miami’s Ustari, who filled in for the injured Drake Callender.
It wasn’t until the 93rd minute of stoppage time that Miami was able to equalize when Orlando missed a handful of defensive clearances, opening the door for a rebound goal by Fafa Picault who helped secure the tie.
While the evening was surrounded around the excitement that is Messi and everything that goes with witnessing greatness on the field, the exhibition was an excellent, high quality match by both teams who look to be promising in the coming MLS season.
To be able to see players the likes of Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba lace up and take the pitch in Tampa Bay was a special moment for Bay area soccer and a night many will never forget.
Rob Higgins, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, has seen a lot of greatness on the field at Raymond James Stadium during his 11-year tenure.
Speaking to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay after the match, he pointed to the Rowdies (who played to 56,389 at the Old Sombrero in 1980) and said Friday night’s Miami-Orlando match took Tampa Bay back to its roots.
“This is a community that really appreciates soccer. It’s a big part of the fabric of our hometown,” he said. “So to have the greatest player of all-time take the field here, play 75 minutes, thrill the crowd. It was really special.”
Higgins added that 30 countries were represented in the audience, with some fans coming all the way from Australia. All 50 states in the U.S. also bought tickets, he said—but he was most thrilled to see kids get a chance to see Messi in the flesh.
“The number of smiles that I saw in the stands. The kids with Messi jerseys. Maybe tomorrow morning, when they take the pitch for their own game, they are going to run a little harder, work a little harder,” Higgins said. “And hopefully become the next Messi one day.”
