Messi’s Inter Miami beats Real Salt Lake 2-0 before sold-out crowd

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami MLS team beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 in Utah. Photo: courtesy of Real Salt Lake // MLS

SANDY, Utah — Real Salt Lake fell 0-2 to reigning MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 21,512 — the fourth-largest in America First Field’s 18-year history — as fans turned out for a rare chance to see global soccer star Lionel Messi play.

Four fighter jets from Hill Air Force Base in Ogden flew over the stadium before kickoff, visible and audible across the Salt Lake Valley. Tickets sold for roughly $500 to several thousand dollars.

Real Salt Lake, fifth in the West, opened the match with energy against the second-place Eastern Conference side. In the fourth minute, 19-year-old Zavier Gozo beat a Miami defender with sharp footwork and sent the ball into the box for rookie forward Sergi Solans, whose header sailed just wide. Moments later, RSL pushed forward again and put the ball in the net, but the goal was called back for offside.

After both sides traded chances, RSL goalkeeper and captain Rafael Cabral made a critical 1-v-1 save against Messi in the 21st minute to keep the visitors off the board. The RSL back line held firm the rest of the half, blocking a Messi free kick just outside the box. The teams went into the locker room scoreless after three minutes of stoppage time.

Head coach Pablo Mastroeni made no halftime substitutions, and Utah’s side — which features six homegrown players — continued to press. In the 54th minute, Gozo sent a shot just over the crossbar. Defender Justen Glad, a homegrown product, cleared a dangerous Miami chance from the center of the box. In the 61st minute, substitute Sanabria entered the match and quickly linked up with midfielder Diego Luna along the left side.

Luna, who has earned call-ups to the U.S. men’s national team, was RSL’s most dangerous attacker on the night. In the 64th minute, he threaded a pass into the box for Gozo, whose shot slid just left of the post. Moments later, Luna found Solans, who got a touch before the ball was gathered by the Miami keeper. In the 76th minute, Luna curled a free kick from just outside the box that bent over the crossbar. 

Miami broke through in the 82nd minute. Off a corner kick, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored from the top of the box. Two minutes later, forward Luis Suárez doubled the lead to 2-0. In the 89th minute, Messi stepped to a free kick just outside the penalty area, but Cabral punched the ball away.

Referees issued six yellow cards, three to each side.

The loss snapped RSL’s six-game unbeaten run and ended a four-match home winning streak. The home side showed flashes of quality but could not find the back of the net.