February 22, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Real Monarchs News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the first time since 2009, Real Salt Lake (0-1-0, 0 points) failed to earn a result in its season opener, falling 2-0 after conceding goals late in each half at Chase Stadium in South Florida against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF (1-0-0, 3 points).
RSL will remain in Miami until Friday afternoon, at which time it will travel to St. Louis for Saturday evening’s 6:30 p.m. MT kickoff at CITY Park against the second-year side, which captured the No. 1 overall Western Conference seed a year ago, and won its CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Houston on Tuesday night at home.
With RSL facing Inter Miami for the first time ever to kick off Major League Soccer’s 29th season – at the earliest juncture in any calendar year since 1996 – the visitors got off to a sluggish start, with Messi and Co. dominating possession for most of the first half. A questionable foul call in the 15th minute that resulted in a Pablo Ruiz booking led to a Messi free kick from 25 yards out, but RSL DF Justen Glad – stationed on one post, with Chicho Arango on the other – was there to head away a threatening curler destined for the upper 90.
Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Robert Taylor and others combined repeatedly throughout the half to pressure RSL, with several half-chances and narrowly missed shots evading the back of the net. In the 39th minute, however, RSL GK Zac MacMath was unable to parry away a Taylor offering from 15 yards out for Miami’s opener.
The 1-0 home lead was threatened repeatedly by RSL in the second 45 minutes, with a calmer and more connected RSL on the front foot for most of the next half-hour. RSL saw various chances created by Chicho Arango, Andrés Gómez and Diego Luna, along with Pablo Ruiz, but could not find the equalizer despite heavy pressure. Miami ‘keeper Drake Callender was able to deny RSL centerback Brayan Vera and both of his second-half shots on goal, also keeping RSL’s top two preseason scorers – Anderson Julio and Fidel Barajas – at bay upon their substitutions.
RSL was unable to break through, finally conceding a second as Messi once again broke down the defense to set up a Suarez assist on Diego Gomez’ evident dagger in the 83rd minute.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
MIA: Robert Taylor, 39th minute (Lionel Messi): Midfield maestro Messi takes a turn just inside the RSL half and slots a slight diagonal inside the box to an onrushing Taylor,…
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