Orlando City’s plan to pester Lionel Messi may not have worked in limiting his influence — he still scored twice — but it elicited the first real fight out of Messi in an Inter Miami jersey. And he looked more than up for it, writes PaulTenorio.
Just a couple minutes before the referee signaled for the half, Messi had checked to receive a pass, shoving his arm into Araujo’s back to send the defender flying. Araujo and Orlando City defenderimmediately returned the favor seconds later, fouling Messi as he received the ball and turned upfield. Messi jumped to his feet and gestured at the referee to produce a yellow card. The official obliged, booking Smith. Inter Miami players flew in to defend Messi, pushing and shoving ensued.
“He said he was coming to compete, he said he was coming to win things and he showed it today,” Martino said. “It was a clasico, it got heated in some moments of the game and, well, he’s doing what he said he would do.”It was clear from the very start that Orlando City was not going to make things easy on the night, and their players were definitely not going to shy away from Miami’s stars. That was very much to be expected.
“Absolutely nothing,” Araujo said in the mixed zone. “Normal things in a game, but no, nothing happened.” Ten minutes later, Messi was seen again on camera verbally sparring with an Orlando City player — this timeInter Miami celebrates Messi’s first half goal
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