Inter Miami vs Austin: Watch Lionel Messi score first goal at Nu Stadium

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez rescued Inter Miami from a losing start on opening night at their Nu Stadium – as head coach Javier Mascherano said his team’s first-half performance in a 2-2 draw with Austin had left him with a “bitter” and “sad” feeling.

Myrto Uzuni hit a post from a free-kick for the visitors inside the first three minutes before Guilherme Biro headed in a Facundo Torres corner to become the first-ever scorer at Miami’s 26,700-capacity stadium and give Austin, who had won one of their first five matches of the MLS season, a surprise lead.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi provided a swift tonic by nodding in Ian Fray’s cross in the 10th minute but Jayden Nelson’s neat finish following a counter-attack restored Austin’s lead eight minutes after the break, with Suarez prodding in from close range to earn Miami a point eight minutes from time.

“We gave away the first half, which makes things complicated in this type of game against these types of opponents,” said Mascherano after overseeing a fourth draw in five matches in all competitions.

“Football isn’t about pressing a button and turning it off whenever we want – it doesn’t work like that. We can’t waste the first half like we did today.”

Analysis: How Austin spoiled Inter Miami’s party

Austin coach Nico Estevez had said his team would attack and they almost scored a second goal earlier when Torres shot against a post from inside the box with half-time approaching.

Miami had 19 of the 25 attempts at goal between the teams but only three of the seven on target, although Suarez thought he had scored with seconds of regular time remaining when the Uruguay all-time top scorer headed in the rebound after Messi sent a free-kick against a post.

“Clearly, we didn’t have any intensity,” Mascherano said of the first half, describing Miami as improved after the break.

“What I see is that many times we’re not identifying transitions and when we need to step back in the transitions, and we start jumping from one thing to another, which is clearly the reason for the second goal [we conceded].”

“We work on it, but that’s what football is all about – otherwise, all the matches would finish 0-0, meaning we are doing everything right.

“Football is dynamic; the players play at 180 degrees of speed, they make split-second decisions and many times a player feels that the ball is there and that he can win it, and takes a step or two forward when maybe he should take two steps back.”

Mascherano defended Miami’s high defensive line but called his players’ response to transitions “an area for improvement”.

“This year we are pressing higher and I can assure you that hasn’t created any problems for us,” added the former Argentina midfielder.

“We shouldn’t focus solely on the negatives; there are positive things within the team.”

Every step led to this moment 🏟️✨@nustadium #freedomtodream pic.twitter.com/aE8Vva8KKR

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 4, 2026

German Berterame: Miami have ‘complete confidence’

Inter Miami spent $15 million (around £11.4m) on German Berterame from Mexican side Monterrey in January but the Mexico striker is yet to rediscover the prolific form he showed for his previous club.

Berterame has not scored in any of Miami’s eight matches in all competitions this season and has been used as a substitute for their last three league games, having been ever-present for their first three.

“He’s very calm and working hard, always giving his all for the team,” said Mascherano. “He’s a team player.

“Beyond the fact that he has a very good track record, he has arrived with a lot of humility to earn a place here.

“Part of my job as a coach is to try to find variations so that he feels as comfortable as possible. It’s not just his issue, it’s my issue and the team’s issue in general.

“But we have complete confidence in him. We haven’t brought in a player for five or six games – we’ve brought him in for three years.”

Berterame played for 32 minutes against Austin, providing an excellent header for Suarez’s goal in his first direct goal involvement for Miami.

“Everything needs an adjustment period and German is a boy who has been playing in a different system,” said Mascherano.

“I have no doubt that sooner or later his opportunity will come and he will be very successful here.”

Todo listo ✨ pic.twitter.com/2VcNbj3aDm

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 4, 2026

Nu Stadium: Mascherano thanks Miami staff

Miami are two points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville despite playing their preceding matches of the campaign away while they waited to move into their new home.

“The stadium was packed,” reflected Mascherano. “It was incredible.

“The work done by all the club employees during this time has been incredible, so I want to congratulate them because they have been working day and night so that we could play in the conditions we played in for this game.”

Inter Miami v Austin stats

• Austin have not lost any of their three meetings with Miami, previously winning 5-1 at home in 2022 and drawing 1-1 in Miami in 2023
• Messi has 83 goals and 53 assists in 94 appearances in all competitions for Miami and faced Austin for the first time in his career
• Charlotte’s Wilfried Zaha (5) is the only player in the 2026 MLS to have received more yellow cards than Miami’s Telasco Segovia (3)
• Miami have the highest pass completion (89.3%) in this season’s competition, immediately ahead of San Diego (88.4%)
• The Herons are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions (W3 D4) since their opening 3-0 defeat at LAFC
• Austin are the only side this season to have kept a clean sheet this season against Western Conference leaders LAFC, who beat Orlando City 6-0 at home on Saturday
• They have conceded at least twice in four of their first six league games, although they kept clean sheets in the other two
• Defender Jon Bell had been their only player to have scored across more than four hours of play between their win at home to DC United on March 1 and their trip to Miami
• Portland (13 yellow cards, two reds) and Chicago (13 cautions, one dismissal) are the only two teams with a worse disciplinary record than Austin (12 bookings, one sending-off)
• Only the LA Galaxy’s Marco Reus (19) and San Jose’s Niko Tsakiris (24) have played more key passes in this season’s MLS than Torres (16)