Messi and Suárez Rescue Point as Inter Miami Debuts Nu Stadium with Dramatic Draw

By Eppe Franklyne

Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez ensured a historic night ended with a flourish as Inter Miami salvaged a 2-2 draw against Austin FC on Saturday. The match marked the long-awaited opening of Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park. Centrally located near Miami International Airport, the 26,700-capacity venue provided an electric atmosphere for the defending MLS champions, who had played their previous home matches in Fort Lauderdale since joining the league seven seasons ago.

The script seemed perfectly written when Messi scored his first goal at the new home in the 10th minute, meeting a cross with a clinical header to level the game. Austin FC had taken a shock lead just six minutes earlier through Guilherme Biro, the first player to ever score at the venue. The visitors regained the lead early in the second half via Jayden Nelson, but the “lethal” instincts of Luis Suárez rescued the point in the 82nd minute as the Uruguayan striker hammered home a trademark volley.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber was in attendance, joining co-owner David Beckham to celebrate a decade-long vision. “Thirteen years ago, I announced that Miami was my choice,” Beckham told the crowd. “Today I stand in our new home. We have the best player in history… Dreams really can come true.” The draw extends Inter Miami’s unbeaten run to five matches, leaving them 4th in the Eastern Conference with 11 points, just behind leaders Nashville SC.

The final minutes were frantic, with Mateo Silvetti missing a golden opportunity in the 87th minute and Suárez seeing a potential 90th-minute winner ruled out for offside. Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver also produced a world-class diving save to deny a Messi strike in stoppage time. While a win proved elusive, the successful debut of Nu Stadium cements a new era for soccer in South Florida, as the team finally moves into its permanent home in the heart of Miami.

With the move to Nu Stadium complete, do you think the home-field advantage in the heart of the city will be the deciding factor in Inter Miami’s push for back-to-back MLS titles?

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