Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez exit at half-time as Hong Kong-bound Inter Miami’s preseason tour starts in El Salvador
- Miami draw with El Salvador before hectic preseason takes them to Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan
- Low-key debut for Suarez after joining former Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at the MLS club
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
Luis Suarez made a subdued debut alongside former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi as Inter Miami kicked off their preseason tour with a 0-0 draw against El Salvador.
Suarez, who signed for Major League Soccer’s Miami last month from Brazilian club Gremio, started in attack alongside Argentine superstar Messi at San Salvador’s Estadio Cuscatlan on Friday.
But the 36-year-old Uruguayan forward struggled to find his footing in a low-key start to his career with the Florida franchise.
Suarez, Messi and fellow former Barcelona players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were all substituted at half-time with the match scoreless.
Messi came closest to opening the scoring on 36 minutes, latching on to a clever touch from Busquets and rifling a volley towards goal only to be denied by El Salvador goalkeeper Mario Martinez, who also stopped the Argentine’s follow-up effort.
Martinez was also alert four minutes later when Alba burst into the box only to see his shot parried away.
El Salvador almost snatched victory in the 83rd minute, but Styven Vasquez’s clever header cannoned off the bar.
Friday’s match launched a hectic series of preseason friendlies for Miami as they prepare to kick off the new MLS season against Real Salt Lake on February 21.
Miami play FC Dallas in a friendly on Monday, then head to Saudi Arabia to face Al Hilal on January 29.
They face Al Nassr on February 1 – a game that should see Messi line up against old rival Cristiano Ronaldo once more.
Miami then travel to Asia to play friendlies against a Hong Kong select team on February 4 before taking on Japanese side Vissel Kobe three days later.
The Herons return to the United States for a final preseason game against Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys on February 15.
