It was almost there for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Opening the 2024 season at home against Inter Miami in front of a record crowd of 27,642 at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy showed they were not the least bit intimidated by the star power of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The Galaxy were on the front foot all match long, creating numerous chances, and finally scoring late in the second half. It looked like the Galaxy were going to score a very impressive season-opening win in front of the home crowd that could go a long way from building momentum for a good start, especially considering the franchise’s recent history, most of which has not been good.
However, the Galaxy found out the hard way the consequences of enabling a team with the star power of Inter Miami to hang around. Messi and Alba rammed that point home in stoppage time, as the two hooked up on a classic goal, and that one moment of Messi magic, combined with a denied penalty and a shot off the framework enabled Miami to rescue a point for Miami courtesy of the 1-1 draw on Sunday night.
“I thought we left a few opportunities on the table, that probably can be the difference when you are playing a team with the quality that they have,” LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said. “You have to finish your chances for sure when you get those opportunities. I’m really proud of the group. I look forward because I see what this team is capable of even on a night like tonight, and knowing the guys are still coming together and getting healthy and all that kind of stuff, I really am excited about the group we have.”
Messi delivered the moment for Miami in the second minute of stoppage time. The Galaxy were already at a disadvantage late in the match when Marky Delgado picked up his second yellow card in the 88th minute, forcing the Galaxy to play a man down to close the match. Messi and Alba worked a quick one-two, Messi then played Alba into the penalty area, Alba the played a ball back to the top of the six-yard box and Messi, who trailed the play, took the sliding left-footed shot that sailed past keeper John McCarthy into the upper back net for the equalizer that sent the portion of the 27,642 rooting for Miami into a frenzy.
“Yeah, we are disappointed, but we are really good with the kind of football that we played,” said Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil. “We find the spaces, and yeah, it’s really disappointed that we let the three points go. No matter, we needed to have a good start of the season for us to win this game, but yeah, all hope is not gone. We did a fantastic job. It was just a little bit luck I think that Messi had the last goal and also the red card also. It’s something that really make us a little bit down. As you can see, we were defending after the red card. So if we had a man really on the pitch, I think the results would have stayed 1-0.”
Such a result seemed unlikely throughout the match. The Galaxy spent the entire first half and most of the second half, and finally edged ahead in the 75th minute. Paintsil dribbled down the left flank on a counter-attack and fed the ball to Riqui Puig, who then fired a volley towards goal, keeper Drake Callender made the save, but left a juicy rebound inside the penalty area, Marky Delgado got to the ball and with Callender scrambling to get back on his feet, Delgado pounced sending a perfect ball into the six-yard box and Dejan Joveljić finished the open net chance to put the Galaxy in front.
The Galaxy were in control throughout the match. LA had its first chance to get on the board starting in the 11th minute when Puig played Paintsil into the penalty area, Paintsil raced past Busquets and thus forcing Busquets to pull him down by his left shoulder and referee Gabriele Ciampi signaled the Galaxy to the penalty spot. Puig stepped up to the spot in the 13th minute and shot to his right, but Callender guessed right, and parried the ball over the end line. Callender foiled the Galaxy again in the 30th minute with a little help from the framework, as the Galaxy won a ball back near the Miami penalty area and Puig fired a volley just outside the box, but Callender calmly guided the ball off the crossbar and Paintsil could not do much with the rebound, as the ball deflected over the end line for a Miami goal kick.
