Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi inspires bright second half in Club World Cup opener, but Egypt’s Al Ahly hold on for 0-0 draw.Lionel Messi led a strong second-half resurgence from Inter Miami in a surprisingly thrilling 0-0 draw with Al Ahly in Group A to open the FIFA Club World Cup in Florida.
The Argentinian forward, much like the rest of his teammates, had a quiet first half at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly dominated the play and the chances in the opening 45 minutes but were denied on numerous occasions by Inter keeper Oscar Ustari.
It appeared that the 39-year-old’s efforts were going to be in vain going in at the break, when Trezeguet stepped up from the spot in the 43rd minute, but Ustari was equal to the Al Ahly threat once more.
Inter Miami’s Argentinian goalkeeper Oscar Ustari makes a save on a penalty kick by Al Ahly’s Egyptian midfielder Trezeguet [Chandan Khanna/AFP]
The second period was a vastly improved performance by the Major League Soccer side, and ended with Messi thumping a long-range effort off the bar.
Al Ahly keeper Mohamed El Shenawy managed to get fingertips onto Messi’s late left-footed curler.
The stopper had to be just as alert from the resulting corner – deep into stoppage time – to deny Maximiliano Falcon’s header.
Al Ahly’s Mohamed El Shenawy makes a save from Lionel Messi [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]
It was his opposite number, Ustari, who kept his side in the contest at the break, leading Inter manager Javier Mascherano to reflect that his side were only “alive” thanks to their keeper. Advertisement
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