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Inter Miami midfielder Leo Messi shoots past Portland Timbers defender Kamal Miller throughout the first half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo\/Rebecca Blackwell)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
MIAMI \u2014 Lionel Messi had a goal and assisted on one other as Inter Miami won its first game at Nu Stadium, 2-0 over the Portland Timbers on Sunday.<\/p>\n
German Berterame also scored for Inter Miami, which had three draws and a loss at its recent 26,000-seat stadium before Sunday\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n
Messi opened the scoring along with his thirteenth goal of the season within the thirty first minute. Luis Su\u00e1rez sent a pass inside to Telasco Segovia, who flicked a pass on to Messi, who beat Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis from 12 yards.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami padded the lead on Berterame\u2019s goal within the forty second minute. Messi dribbled past two defenders and centered to Berterame, who converted contained in the left post.<\/p>\n
The Timbers had the primary scoring threat when Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair deflected Cole Bassett\u2019s shot from the sting of the big area within the eleventh minute.<\/p>\n
The familiar singing, cheering, flag waving and drum beating from Inter Miami\u2019s organized supporters\u2019 groups \u201cLa Familia\u201d were absent until late within the match. The groups reportedly are upset that the players haven’t acknowledged their presence in the brand new stadium and remained silent as a type of protest before they began singing within the eighty fifth minute.<\/p>\n
The match was the primary between the teams since Portland coach Phil Neville was fired as Inter Miami\u2019s coach in 2023, shortly before Messi began playing for the Herons.<\/p>\n
Neville is close friends with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham and told reporters after the Timbers got to South Florida late last week that he was aware Messi selecting Miami would likely mean a training change. The club has had 4 coaches since, including two interim bosses, all of them from Messi\u2019s native Argentina.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the beginning of the (2023) season, I used to be under no illusions that probably when\/if he got here in that I wouldn\u2019t be here, and that\u2019s totally positive,\u201d Neville said, referring to Messi. \u201cI understood football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunday was also the primary Inter Miami match for the reason that team revealed that forward Tadeo Allende had what was described as successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee \u201cto deal with the discomfort he had been experiencing in recent weeks.\u201d There\u2019s no timetable for his return.<\/p>\n