Lionel Messi Watches Inter Miami's First Win of 2024 From the Bench As Leonardo Campana Shines in Hong Kong
Inter Miami won for the first time in 2024 by beating a team representing the Hong Kong Premier League 4-1 in a pre-season friendly.
Sunday's game in Hong Kong came less than 72 hours after Miami had been thrashed 6-0 by Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Due to the short turnaround, Miami boss Gerardo Martino rested many of his big-hitters, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all starting on the bench.
Messi and Suarez would spend the full 90 minutes on the sidelines, but Busquets and Alba were brought on for the final half-hour.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi pictured at Hong Kong Stadium before Sunday's exhibition game
IMAGO/ZUMA Wire/Liau Chung-ren
In the absence of star strikers Messi and Suarez, Ecuador forward Leonardo Campana shone as the leading light in Miami's attack.
Campana scored with a cheeky low finish from 15 yards in the 56th minute, shortly after providing a fine pre-assist for a Lawson Sunderland goal.
Robert Taylor had earlier put Miami in front with a superb curling strike from just outside the penalty area in the first half.
The Hong Kong XI equalized courtesy of a goal from Estonia international Henri Anier just before half-time.
But after Sunderland and Campana had put Miami in control, Ryan Sailor wrapped up a convincing win for the Major League Soccer side with an excellent header late on.
Miami have now played five games this year, having lost to Al-Hilal, Al Nassr and FC Dallas following a 0-0 draw with El Salvador.
Next up for Miami is a game against Vissel Kobe in Japan on Wednesday.
That will be followed eight days later by a clash with Newell's Old Boys in Florida before the 2024 MLS season kicks off with a game against Real Salt Lake on February 21.
