Brilliant Lionel Messi free-kick leads Inter Miami past Porto at Club World Cup
Lionel Messi connected on a free kick in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in a Group A match of the Fifa Club World Cup on Thursday afternoon.
After Porto struck first on Samu Aghehowa's penalty kick in the eighth minute, Marcelo Weigandt assisted on Telasco Segovia's game-tying goal in the 47th.
Miami found its second goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half against Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos as Messi scored on the 68th free-kick goal of his illustrious career.
The free-kick was set up for Miami when Messi was taken down just outside the penalty area by Rodrigo Mora on a run down the middle of the field. The crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was chanting 'Messi!' Messi! Messi!' before his left-footed blast cleared the Porto wall and ripped the net in the top right corner in the 54th minute.
Each team netted their first goals of the tournament after Miami tied Al Ahly 0-0 on Saturday and Porto suffered the same result against Palmeiras on Sunday.
After VAR review confirmation, it was determined that Miami's Noah Allen committed a tripping penalty in the box against Joao Mario, leading to Aghehowa's penalty goal that was deflected by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and in for the game's first goal in the eighth minute.
Aghehowa, 21, had 19 goals in 30 Primeira Liga matches for the Portuguese side this past season.
Miami knotted the score at one less than 90 seconds into the second half, as Weigandt's cross into the center of the box was finished by Segovia, who fired in the equalizing goal past a sprawling Ramos.
Miami then continued its great start to the second half, as Porto's Rodrigo Mora's foul led to Messi's successful free kick – perfectly placed in the top right corner.
Inter Miami returns to South Florida on Monday, knowing a victory over Brazilian club Palmeiras at Hard Rock Stadium will lock up its spot in the Round of 16. In desperate need of a win, Porto closes out group play against Egypt's Al Ahly at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Jose Lopez scored in the 60th minute to lift Brazil's Palmeiras to a 2-0 victory over Egypt's Al Ahly in Club World Cup Group A play on Thursday afternoon in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Weverton made two saves to help Palmeiras maintain the clean sheet.
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Palmeiras opened the scoring in the 49th minute following an own goal by Al Ahly's Wessam Abou Ali, who inadvertently headed home Anibal Moreno's free kick. Palmeiras doubled the advantage after Lopez sent a left-footed shot into the net following Mauricio's through ball.
The match had a short delay in the 63rd minute 'because of severe weather in the area.'
Both teams played to a scoreless draw in their first matches, with Palmeiras drawing even with Porto and Al Ahly doing the same with Inter Miami.
Al Ahly's best chance to open the scoring in the first half came in the sixth minute, but Abou Ali's attempt from the center of the box sailed wide of the net. Yahya Attiat Allah's cross set up Abou Ali's attempt.
Palmeiras' Estevao's left-footed shot from the center of the box sailed just wide to the right in the 18th minute.
Palmeiras' Raphael Veiga initially received a red card for his sliding tackle to Zizo, but VAR ultimately downgraded it to a yellow upon review. Agustin Giay also received a yellow card in the 43rd minute.
Al Ahly's Hamdi Fathy and Attiat Allah also were shown a yellow in the 42nd minute and in first-half stoppage time, respectively.
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