LA Galaxy vs. Inter Miami CF - Riqui Puig vs. Lionel Messi - Full Match Highlights

Edwin Surillo gets the start, while Joseph Paintsil will make his direct debut, which is a dynamic winger because Paintsil has a ton of pace behind him. Robert Taylor, game-winning goal Wednesday night, he gets his second start in a row. The LA Galaxy and Inter Miami underway from Dignity Health Sports Park. Inter Miami in their El Noche, the dark kits with the pink accents. Here is Ricky Pooch, he's got space. Ricky Pooch to Paintsil. Paintsil is in as he pulls it home, he is! It's a penalty for LA! Fantastic recognition here from Joseph Paintsil to pull the defenders wide, but then play Ricky Pooch and now it's an overlapping run and just that little touch by Busquets puts him in a bad position. The right arm comes up, he pulls the left shoulder, absolutely 100% of penalty, but that is what pace does to any team that does. The key here for Drake Callender is just holding your ground as long as possible to get any kind of read on Ricky Pooch. Pooch is saved by Callender! It's holding your ground, the hips open, this is fantastic goalkeeping from Drake Callender. Just waiting for any kind of indication of where Ricky Pooch wants to go and any kind of right footed ball that opens up. Galaxy with it back, Ricky Pooch, Paintsil, he's in, Paintsil saved by Callender. Gundez will serve, knocked down by Yoshida, cleared away. Messi got there before Serrillo but it ends up with Ricky Pooch! Paintsil couldn't turn it into the open goal, killer again from Drake Callender. I get my report card this week, I'm hoping for some VGs and some Gs. That is deflected in and it's Messi, takes another deflection, McCarthy had to react and push it away. A thrilling first half in many ways, one that the LA Galaxy surely will be happy about everything except the inability to score. A penalty kick saved by Drake Callender. All to play for in the second half. Underway between the LA Galaxy and Inter Miami, the final match of the 2024 season opening weekend in Major League Soccer. Only way they can take the pressure off their back line is keeping possession and be very smart on how they get forward. First time we've seen Jordy Alba do that. This is promising to begin, it's left for Gomez! It's right at McCarthy who makes the save with his feet. Facundes will serve. Facundes, good ball in! Oh what a save again from Callender! Castarez is hurt. Callender got in the way. Getting to a dangerous spot yet this season for Inter Miami. Maybe it'll happen here with Messi on the ball. Messi from distance, McCarthy holds on. It's amazing though, you really haven't seen anything from Suarez. Oh Delgado had space, now Jovolych. Paitzel, Jovolych, back to Paitzel. Paitzel didn't get enough on it. Missed it, easy for Callender in the end. He's looking at the legs but I just think Campana makes them more dangerous. Jovolych, turning. Off the post! Yamane into the middle. The Galaxy just cannot find the breakthrough. But Yamane makes a great run forward. Here's Messi, 30 yards away from John McCarthy. Messi into the wall. It falls and it's saved by McCarthy! Robbing Diego Gomez! Here come the Galaxy, forward with pace. Paitzel, running at Aviles. Paitzel coming inside to Ricky Pooch. Ricky Pooch! Saved by Callender! More importantly from a Galaxy perspective, they have the goal. And here comes Ricky Pooch looking for another. Jovolych sprinting up the middle. Pooch keeping it himself! Pooch! It's right at Callender who does well to hold. Paitzel, Ricky Pooch. Can the Galaxy find a second to put it away? Gabriel Peck with space. Peck running at Krivstov. Peck onto his left! Callender holding on. They need, after this performance, to leave here with three points. The Galaxy allowed eight more goals than any other team last season in MLS. 67, almost exactly two per game. Yeah, this is a second for Delgado who got that yellow earlier when he pushed the ball away on the throw-in. Delgado is off. It took Gabriele Ciampi a second to remember. Cutting it back into Busquets. Now Jordi Alba gets it. Drives it across for Messi! And wide. Messi. Jordi Alba back to Messi. Jordi Alba cuts it across. MESSI!!! That sense of inability. Remarkable against the run of play. Yet it doesn't matter. Messi. Alba. Again, Jordi Alba. Serrillo to Jedlin. The full-time whistle. On a thrilling night in Los Angeles. Lionel Messi in stoppage time. Steals a point for Inter Miami. It ends 1-1.