Inter Miami showcased their resilience once again in a thrilling preseason match against Club Universitario that ended in a penalty shootout victory. The MLS side, under the guidance of new manager Javier Mascherano, maintained their unbeaten streak in preseason following a scoreless draw that concluded with a 5-4 triumph on penalties in Lima, Peru.
The star-studded lineup featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba took to the field alongside debutant Tadeo Allende. While the match remained goalless throughout regulation time, it wasn't without its moments of excitement. Suarez found the back of the net in the first half, only to have his effort nullified by an offside call. Messi, true to form, orchestrated the attack during his 45-minute appearance, though his efforts didn't translate to goals.
The electric atmosphere at the Estadio Monumental provided a spectacular backdrop to the contest, with passionate fans creating an unforgettable experience through their continuous whistles, chants, music, and cheers. The vibrant support from both sets of supporters persisted until the final whistle, surpassing the quality of the on-field action.
Suarez's performance notably fell short of expectations, as the Uruguayan striker struggled with his timing and movement. His difficulties in transition, while expected during preseason, were compounded by limited service from his teammates. Despite these challenges, Inter Miami's resilience shone through in the penalty shootout, where they capitalized on Universitario's costly miss to secure their second consecutive shootout victory.
The match also saw the introduction of Benjamin Cremaschi, fresh from Mauricio Pochettino's January USMNT training camp, who replaced Allende in the second half, adding fresh energy to Miami's lineup.
Inter Miami will look to build on this result as they continue their preseason campaign, with their next challenge coming against Sporting San Miguelito at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez Gutierrez in Panama City on February 2 at 5 p.m. ET.
