Inter Miami Falls to FC Dallas in Preseason Friendly

FC Dallas secured a 1-0 victory against Inter Miami CF at the Cotton Bowl on Monday night, maintaining a clean sheet against Lionel Messi and his team. This marked the second consecutive game without a goal for Miami during their preseason world tour, following a 0-0 draw with El Salvador on Friday. The match saw Messi and his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suárez, playing together for the second time in the MLS.

Jesús Ferreira netted the sole goal of the game, beating Drake Callender at his far post early in the match. However, Ferreira had to be substituted off before halftime due to an apparent injury. Messi had his first two shots saved by Dallas keeper Michael Collodi, while Suárez had two attempts on goal in the first half.

Messi and Suárez appeared out of sync in the second half, failing to recreate their magic from their Barcelona days. Miami’s manager, Gerardo Martino, substituted both players off just past the hour mark. FC Dallas defended against a flurry of shots in the second half with substitute keeper Antonio Carrera.

FC Dallas president Dan Hunt expressed the significance of playing against Lionel Messi, emphasizing the rarity of such opportunities for most markets. Messi had previously scored twice in Inter Miami’s comeback win over FC Dallas on August 6.

Miami’s upcoming schedule includes matches in Saudi Arabia and Japan before returning home for a friendly against Messi’s youth club, Newell’s Old Boys. Their MLS campaign begins on February 21st against Real Salt Lake at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.