DALLAS — (AP) Lionel Messi had three shots on goal before exiting early in the second half in Inter Miami's 1-0 loss to FC Dallas in an MLS preseason game at the Cotton Bowl on Monday night.
Messi took three shots in the first half and left the game about 15 minutes into the second half with Inter Miami trailing in front of an announced crowd of 32,221 in a game played in a drizzle and 40 degrees (4 Celsius).
Forward Jesús Ferreira scored on an uncontested shot three minutes into the match to give FC Dallas an early lead that held up.
Messi's first two shots were saved by goalkeeper Maarten Paes, who dove to his left to deflect Messi’s second shot in the 12th minute. Messi’s third shot was wide left in the 27th minute.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored twice in Inter Miami’s comeback win over FC Dallas on Aug. 6 at Toyota Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. FC Dallas moved 30 miles north in 2009 after playing its first 13 MLS seasons at the Cotton Bowl, which was a 1994 World Cup venue.
“We have a lot of good memories here from 1994 when Holland beat Brazil,” said Paes, who is from the Netherlands. “It is very historic and beautiful. I love playing in this stadium. The atmosphere was great and the pitch was perfect.”
Uruguayan star Luis Suárez, who teamed with Messi at FC Barcelona from 2014-20, played in his first match on American soil since joining Inter Miami in December. Suárez had two shots on goal in the first half, the first saved by Paes. The second sailed wide right in the 44th minute.
Inter Miami failed to score in its second straight preseason game after a 0-0 draw against El Salvador on Friday.
FC Dallas held off a flurry of shots in the second half behind a pair of replacement keepers in Jimmy Maurer and Antonio Carrera.
“To get to play against Lionel Messi is an unbelievable opportunity,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said prior to the match. “For most people, it’s a never. Most markets never get to bring him … you have the greatest probably of all time, with maybe the exception of Pele, and you get to have him twice in your market. Once we hosted at our home, and then we get to share with a different part of the community in Dallas.”
The 36-year-old Messi arrived in Miami last July and scored 10 goals in seven games. He led the club to its first-ever trophy by winning the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 19.
Inter Miami will travel to Saudi Arabia to face Al Hilal next Monday and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Feb. 2.
PHOTOS: FC Dallas, Inter Miami play preseason match at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
WHAT THEY SAID
Head Coach Nico Estévez
On soccer culture in this city…
“It’s huge. You can see it tonight but you can also see how the fans are responding at Toyota Stadium because they are there every single game, it’s full and packed. You can also see it when I watch my son, he plays soccer, many kids play around here and all the families and I think the growth is very very good and it will keep growing.”
On the fans tonight…
“It was a great game, we had some really nice soccer tonight. I want to thank the fans for coming out, it was cold, it was rainy, it was a Monday at 5 pm, but there were plenty of kids in the crowd coming after school, as my son did. The fans were happy tonight.”
Defender Omar Gonzalez
On tonight's game…
“Every time we step on the field we play hard and come to win no matter the rival. We played really well tonight and we did not lose focus which is very important. It is important to play every game with intensity no matter if it is a friendly. The team tonight connected and fought every ball and this is very important as we continue to prepare for the beginning of the season.”
On his first game with FC Dallas…
“It is a dream come true to be able to return back with the club. I am very speechless and emotional to be back on the field and home with my family. Playing in this stadium especially brings a lot of memories and happiness as it was nothing but great experiences that remind me of my childhood.”
Goalkeeper Maarten Paes
On the match…
“It was a close game and it was good to get everyone on our team going again. It is good to prepare for set pieces ahead of next season. We are ready to go.”
On playing inside the Cotton Bowl…
“It was unbelievable. We have a lot of good memories here from 1994 when Holland beat Brazil. It is a beautiful stadium. Last year I visited Barcelona against Juventus here. It is so historic and I also know that every year the Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas. It is very historic and beautiful. I love playing in this stadium, the atmosphere was great and the pitch was perfect.”
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