Inter Miami, the host city team led by Argentine superstar Messi, played out an entertaining goalless draw against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly to kick off the FIFA Club World Cup.
Miami’s goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, was the standout player, making several crucial saves, including one from a penalty, to keep a clean sheet.
Messi nearly scored in the second half with a free-kick and came close to clinching a late victory with a stunning long-range shot that was acrobatically tipped onto the crossbar by Mohamed el Shenawy.
Although the event has faced criticism, it began without any goals, allowing the focus to shift back to football, at least for now.
Matchday marked the first time this week that the atmosphere felt like a major tournament was about to commence.
In the South Beach area, traveling Al Ahly fans were enjoying lunch and drinks ahead of the big match.
The Egyptian team, having won the African Champions League, boasts an impressive history with the most league titles (45) and continental championships (12) of any club, but they struggled to make an impact on the global stage.
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Along Route 95 leading to the stadium, advertising boards promoted the match, declaring it “showtime” in classic American style.
The last significant event at Hard Rock Stadium occurred 11 months ago when “a party almost became a tragedy” as ticketless fans forced their way in for the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia, delaying the start by 80 minutes.
Authorities learned a hard lesson from that incident and were determined to prevent a repeat, with police cars and flashing lights lining the streets outside the stadium.
In light of that match and recent unrest in Los Angeles, officers with ‘counter-terrorism’ insignia patrolled the venue’s exterior, and multiple security checks and bag searches were conducted before fans were allowed inside.
Supporters faced delays as they underwent additional checks at a second security point.
It remains to be seen if the same level of security will be implemented for Sunday’s matches in LA, Cincinnati, New York/New Jersey, and Seattle.
Once through the extensive screening, it was the first time fans wearing ‘Messi 10’ jerseys were seen in the city, with the bright pink and black shirts in abundance.
Chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi” echoed from his devoted supporters, reminiscent of Argentina’s triumphant World Cup run in Qatar three years ago.
The former Barcelona star narrowly missed with one shot and had another bending effort saved by El Shenawy, before curling a beautiful free-kick into the side netting, which many in the crowd believed had scored.
