Messi’s InterMiami lost against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr!
Sports Desk, Feb 2 (EFE).-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr thrashed Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 6-0 in a Riyadh Season Cup friendly in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Messi was not initially called up onto the field due to some discomfort, but later appeared on the bench and played the last few minutes as humiliation for his American club was all but complete.
Brazilian Anderson Talisca shone at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh in the absence of Ronaldo, who was recovering from injury, scoring three goals and remaining omnipresent in attack.
Al-Nassr came out determined to resolve the match quickly with overwhelming pressure against an Inter Miami team that was struggling to keep possession and was still smarting from their defeat in the previous friendly match in Riyadh against Al-Hilal.
Luis de Castro’s team took 3-0 inside 12 minutes of the first half thanks to goals from Otavio, Talisca and Spanish international Aymeric Laporte, who scored from a free kick from more than 60 meters away.
Inter Miami lacked direction and rhythm on the field, and only caused concern when Uruguayan Luis Suárez made some sporadic attacks in the game that Ronaldo enjoyed from the executive box.
The second half was a copy of the first 45 minutes, and Al-Nassr knew how to set the time and stop a possible reaction from the Miami team coached by Gerardo “Tata” Martino, especially after Talisca made it 4-0 in the 50th minute by converting a penalty.
Mohamed Maran scored 5-0 in the 67th minute, and Talisca completed the rout with his third goal of the night six minutes later.
The full stadium began to roar when Messi showed up to play in the last 8 minutes, but it was too late for him to make an impact. EFE
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