The match began with back-and-forth play from both teams, but with greater danger from the visitors, featuring actions typical of Messi, who maintains his magic and excellent physical condition. A free kick from the Argentine star, perfectly placed to open the scoring for Las Garzas (the nickname for Inter Miami), was blocked by an extreme save from Venezuelan goalkeeper José Contreras, who pushed the ball over the crossbar. However, that did not stop him. In another move, he picked up the ball from outside the area, dribbled past every rival who tried to get in his way, and with a left-footed, mid-height strike, scored a beautiful goal that was even celebrated by Barcelona fans, who wore yellow jerseys with Messi's photo. Barcelona reacted and equalized, following a corner kick executed by the young Johan García, which beat the goalkeeper and the ball fell perfectly for a header from attacker Rojas. Before the first half ended, Messi received the ball on the right flank, saw that Argentine Berterame was running on the other side, and passed the ball to him with architectural precision for him to score the visitors' second goal. Beyond a friendly, it was a demanding match for the attacker in his quest to arrive with Argentina to defend the World Cup title in Canada, the United States, and Mexico in June, which he won in Qatar 2022. Lionel Messi (left) and Luis Suárez, of Inter Miami, react before a friendly match between Barcelona and Inter Miami in Guayaquil (Ecuador). Messi left the match in the 58th minute and was replaced by Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. For Barcelona, Argentine scorer Darío Benedetto played, who entered in the 64th minute and is one of the hopes for the Ecuadorian team to triumph next February 18 in the match against Argentinos Juniors in the second phase of the Copa Libertadores. After Messi's departure, Benedetto earned applause from fans who eagerly awaited an equalizer. In the 86th minute, Argentine David Ayala, of Miami, stepped on Benedetto, and Ecuadorian referee Yerson Zambrano sent him off. Barcelona scored a dramatic equalizer through Argentine Martínez, taking advantage of a lapse in the opposing defense to finish with ease from close range. Inter Miami concluded its South American tour, which began with a 3-0 loss to Alianza Lima of Peru, and then won 2-1 on their visit to Atlético Nacional of Colombia.
