FC Dallas held Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF scoreless in a 1-0 exhibition victory at the Cotton Bowl on Monday night.
It was the second goalless game to start Miami's extensive preseason world tour, following a 0-0 draw with El Salvador on Friday, and the second time Messi started alongside his former Barcelona teammate and newcomer to the MLS Luis Suarez.
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Jesús Ferreira scored the only goal of the match, beating Drake Callender at his far post minutes into the match, but was substituted shortly before half-time after going down with an apparent injury.
Messi's first two shots were saved by Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi, who dove to his left to deflect the World Cup winner's second shot in the 12th minute. Messi's third shot went wide left in the 27th minute after a pass from Suárez.
Suárez had two shots on goal in the first half, the first saved by Collodi. The second went wide in the 44th minute.
Messi and Suarez looked out of sync with each other as the second half resumed and failed to rekindle any of their magic from the Barca days, with Miami coach Gerardo Martino replacing both players just after the hour mark.
FC Dallas, which played in the Cotton Bowl until 2009, withstood a flurry of shots on goal early in the second half behind backup goalkeeper Antonio Carrera.
“Being able to play against Lionel Messi is an incredible opportunity,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said before the match. “For most people, it's a never. Most markets never carry him… you have the best chance of all time, maybe with the exception of Pelé, and you can have him twice in your market, once we receive it in our home and then we can share with a different part of the community in Dallas.”
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scored two goals in Inter Miami's comeback victory over FC Dallas on August 6 at Toyota Stadium in their epic Leagues Cup showdown. Miami won the game in a penalty shootout en route to the title of the Leagues Cup.
Next up for Messi and Miami is a pair of matches in Saudi Arabia, including one against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, before traveling to Japan for two matches and then returning home for a friendly against Argentine youth club Newell's Old Boys. .
Miami begins its MLS campaign against Real Salt Lake on February 21 at DRV Pink Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this article.
