Inter Miami CF closed out its 2024 preseason tonight in South Florida with a 1-1 draw against Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys in a special evening at DRV PNK Stadium. Striker Shanyder Borgelin scored the team’s goal on the night.
The team’s final 2024 matchup pitted head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino and captain Lionel Messi against the team from their hometown, Rosario. The pair came through the youth ranks at the Argentine club. Martino featured for the team over three different stints during his playing career, where he not only made the most appearances of any player in the club’s history, but also played a key role in the titles won in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992. Additionally, he had a successful stint as a head coach, winning another title in 2013. Messi, meanwhile, left Newell’s to join FC Barcelona after a productive youth career with the Argentine side. After six years with Newell’s, Messi recorded an impressive record of 234 goals.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami stepped onto the pitch for its final preseason matchup with Drake Callender in goal; Jordi Alba, Nicolás Freire, Tomás Avilés and DeAndre Yedlin formed a backline of four; Julian Gressel, Yannick Bright and David Ruiz started midfield; Diego Gómez, Luis Suárez and Messi led the team in attack.
The team’s return to South Florida saw center back Freire make his Inter Miami debut as part of the starting eleven, while Gressel and Suárez started at DRV PNK Stadium for the first time. Additionally, Gómez made his first 2024 preseason appearance for the team after captaining Paraguay’s U-23 national team in the conquest of the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament title over the past month.
Match Action
The matchup presented a close game with both sides probing the opposition’s backline in search of the opener. The hosts were rewarded for their efforts and finally found the opener in the 64th minute; second-half substitute Borgelin rose inside the box to head the ball to the back of the net following a delivery from Taylor from a corner kick to put Inter Miami 1-0 ahead in the scoring.
Newell’s Old Boys were then able to level the scoring through a Franco Díaz goal in the 83rd minute. The scoring subsequently remained unchanged and the match finished in a 1-1 draw in Inter Miami’s final 2024 preseason fixture.
Next Match
Next, Inter Miami will prepare for its 2024 MLS regular season home opener this upcoming Wednesday, Feb. 21, when the team is set to host Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium at 8 p.m. ET.
