Tokyo –
Lionel Messi appear strengthening Inter Miami in the pre-season match against Vissel Kobe. The Herons lost on penalties 3-4 after playing 0-0 in normal time.
Pre-season match between Vissel Kobe vs Inter Miami held at the Tokyo National Stadium on Wednesday (7/2/2024) afternoon WIB. Miami fielded Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez as starters while Messi only entered in the second half.
The crowd could be heard chanting Messi’s name in the opening minutes. Vissel Kobe created the first chance from Daiju Sakai’s volley after crossing from the left wing.
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Vissel Kobe almost scored a goal in the 15th minute. An attack from the right wing on Yuya Osako ended with a shot towards goal.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender parried the ball which then hit the Inter Miami goalpost. The ball was caught by Osako, but again it hit the goalpost.
Sergio Busquets received treatment on the pitch after being hit by Osako. Busquets finally left the playing area and went straight into the players’ tunnel.
Inter Miami was finally able to get out of the opponent’s pressure after half an hour. Robert Taylor fired a shot from the edge of the penalty box, which started as a counter-attack. However, the ball still bounced.
In injury time, Vissel Kobe wasted a golden opportunity. Inter Miami’s back line error caused the ball to fall into Osako’s path. However, Osako’s shot in a one on one situation went over the crossbar.
The first round is over. The score is still 0-0.
After halftime, the moment fans had been waiting for arrived. Messi came on to replace David Ruiz in the 60th minute.
Vissel Kobe instead created another dangerous opportunity four minutes later. Jean Patrick only had to face Callendar, Deandre Yedlin made a crucial tackle to break him.
Inter Miami responded in the 70th minute. Luis Suarez greeted the corner kick with an overhead kick even though the ball was still wide.
Nine minutes later, Messi almost scored a goal for Inter Miami. Messi broke free in front and fired a shot which was saved by Shota Arai. Messi continued the rebound ball again with a horizontal kick, but Vissel Kobe’s player was able to sweep it across the goal line.
Vissel Kobe spread another threat in the last 10 minutes. From a free kick on the left side, Callendar failed to reach the ball. However, the ball narrowly deviated from Inter Miami’s goal.
Three minutes of added time. Messi sent a pass to Jordi Alba behind the Vissel Kobe defense. Alba’s shot is blocked.
Vissel Kobe had the last chance when Osako’s header was caught by Callender. The 0-0 score lasted until the match was over, then continued with a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout
Vissel Kobe: Osako gol, Mirashiro gol, Yuruki gol, Yamaguchi gagal, Hatsuse gagal, Iino (gol)
Inter Miami: Campana goals, Gressel goals, Jordi Alba goals, Taylor misses (bar), Allen (supervised), Gregore (supervised)
Lineup
VISSEL KOBE: Powell Obinna (Shota Arai 46′), Gotoku Sakai, Takuya Iwanami, Yuki Honda (Ryuho Kikuchi 60′), Ryo Hatsuse, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Takahiro Ohgihara (Yosuka Ideguchi 60′), Haruya Ide (Taisei Miyashiro 60′) , Daiju Sasaki (Nanasei Iino 73′), Yuya Osaka, Jean Patrick (Koya Yuruki 63′)
INTER MIAMI: Drake Callender, Jordi Alba, Yedlin, Allen, Aviles (Ryan Sailor 75′), Sergio Busquets (Yannick Bright 25′) Taylor, Gressel, Gregore, David Ruiz (Lionel Messi 60′), Luis Suarez (Leonardo Campana 75′)
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