El Salvador vs Inter Miami live online: score, stats and updates | MLS friendly
El Salvador vs Inter Miami: Live updates
It's a quadruple substitution for Inter Miami as all four ex-Barcelona players are withdrawn, to a disappointed response form the home crowd.
Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Jordi Alba are replaced by Campana, Farias, Mcvey and Ruiz.
The players are emerging for the tunnel for the second half at Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador. Inter Miami are preparing a number of substitutions before we get started.
It looks like Facundo Farias and Leonardo Campana are among those entering the fray.
WATCH: Lionel Messi stings keeper's palms
This was the closest Inter Miami came in the first half. The four ex-Barça stars have looked a little slow to get up to speed in the opening 45 minutes but they combined well for this Lionel Messi chance.
Top save from Martinez, who did well in goal for El Salvador.
A scoreless, incident-free first half in El Salvador to begin Inter Miami's 2024.
Miami dominated possession but it was the hosts who manufactured the better chances in the opening 30 minutes. They looked to play direct, hitting Miami on transitions, and got some joy out of a new-look defensive unit.
Lionel Messi grew into the game as the half developed and he came the closest to breaking the deadline for the visitors after exchanging a sharp one-two with Sergio Busquets. There were appeals for an Inter Miami penalty with five minutes of the first half remaining but they were, quite reasonably, waved away by the referee.
Still goalless at the break. How long will Martino leave it before making changes?
Half time!
Messi's free kick is poorly hit and easily blocked by El Salvador.
Half time whistle, that's that for the opening 45 minutes in San Salvador.
Lionel Messi is felled on the edge of the box. Free kick to Inter Miami, around 25 yards from goal.
No prizes for guessing who will take this...
There will be one minute of added time at the end of the first half.
There's a lull in the stadium as Busquets stands on the ball, 35 yards from the El Salvador goal, before playing a quick pass to Messi and launching a new attack. Messi looks to play a one-two with Cremaschi on the edge of the box but the return pass is too heavy.
Luis Suarez has been very quiet so far, but his presence up front does seem to have given Messi greater freedom to drop deep and connect with the midfield. At time the Inter Miami captain is playing as a deep midfielder, picking the ball up from Busquets and looking to launch attacks from deep.
Jordi Alba should score!
The Miami full back is played through on goal on the left for a one-on-one chance, but Martinez stands up well to block the effort.
Score still 0-0 with five minutes of the first half to go.
With a little over five minutes to go until the break, El Salvador have had the better of the chances in the first half.
Allen zips a long pass out to Gressel on the right wing but the new signing can't bring the ball down.
El Salvador go straight back on the counter-attack and Ferman gets in behind once again. Aviles gets back to clear the danger but Miami look vulnerable from that long ball.
First big chance for Inter Miami!
The visitors force their way through the el Salvador defence with a sharp turn of pace from Messi. The Miami captain gets in on goal but his first effort is saved and he can't connect cleanly on the rebound. El Salvador survive.
It was brilliant play from Busquets to create the chance.
Another opening for El Salvador!
It's another long ball that falls to Tamacas this time, but the wing-back can't get any power on his volleyed effort. Easy save for CJ dos Santos, but it's not brilliant from Miami.
Luis Suarez waves his hands as a long ball from the Miami defence bounces harmlessly through to Martinez in goal. Inter Miami are struggling to get in behind the hosts.
Big appeals for an Inter Miami penalty!
Luis Suarez does brilliantly to control a high ball on the edge of the box and charges towards goal. He fires a pass across goal and a Miami body goes to ground in the area.
Difficult to see who the player was, but it didn't look like a very convincing claim. Referee waves away the appeals. Play on.
Clever play from Messi to stab the ball out to Gressel on the right flank. The ball is whipped in and headed out for a corner.
Inter Miami have not looked particularly convincing in defence so far. Allen and Aviles are young but they have given chances to the hosts from long balls forward.
El Salvador come close!
They're had very little of the ball but the hosts nearly take the lead. A long ball is pumped forwards and it falls to Ceren on the edge of the box, but the El Salvador forward drags his short just wide.
Jordi Alba chances after an overly-ambitious through ball from Lionel Messi and gives a little kick to the El Salvador defender as the ball trickles out of play. The referee has a quick word with the Miami full back, but no card is given.
El Salvador get the ball clear and manage to ease the pressure.
The hosts have had little of the ball in the opening stages but they have prevented any real chances for Inter Miami, keeping the more illustrious visitors out of their penalty area for the most part.
Luis Suarez wins a corner kick for his team. The kick is played short and then whipped in towards the back post, only to be headed away by a defender.
Yedlin trots across to take a long throw on the right flank.
Messi looks to latch onto a long ball over the top but is beaten to the ball by Martinez. The El Salvador goalkeeper gives Messi a little high-five as he jogs back to his position, drawing huge cheers from the crowd.
Who isn't a Messi fan?
Noah Allen is finding lots of space on the left of the defence but hasn't managed to find Jordi Alba in any dangerous positions so far.
He is still a bit raw defensively, but Tomas Aviles' on-ball qualities are immediately apparent for Inter Miami. Last season the recently-departed Kamal Miller took on much of the ball-playing responsibilities out from the back but the youngster could be the one to step into his boots in 2024.
Another warning for the Miami defence as Bonilla turns sharply for El Salvador on the edge of the box and fires just wide.
The hosts come forward again just moments later, this time it's Ceren who lets fly from range.
El Salvador looking to unsettled Inter Miami after a fairly comfortable start.
Messi makes a driving run through the middle of the field and slips the ball through to Gressel on the right. The new signing gets to the byline and tries to pull it back for Messi but El Salvador get a defensive boot in the way.
That link-up between Messi and Gressel will be interesting to see develop as the Argentine drifts out to the right.
Good play from El Salvador as the ball is slipped through to Fermin, racing in behind the Miami backline. For a second their is panic but the visitors are saved by the official's flag.
A lack of organisation at the back for Miami, there.
Nearly an opening for Messi after playing a one-two with Suarez on the edge of the box. The return pass is a little too long and it bounces through to El Salvador goalkeeper Martinez.
Messi is starting off with a very free role.
Brilliant footwork from Messi in the El Salvador box, before sweeping a ball out to Gregore on the right flank. The Miami midfielder takes a touch and rifles a shot goalwards. It's easily blocked but Miami regain possession.
In midfield is looks like Busquets is playing as a single pivot, with the more energetic Gregore and Cremaschi slightly further upfield.
Dogged play from Messi on the halfway line as he holds off three El Salvador midfielders. he eventually loses the ball but it's called back for a free kick to Miami.
First cries of 'Olé' from the crowd.
Corner kick for El Salvador after a cross is deflected behind. They play the ball short and Flores is forced to circulate the ball back to the defence.
Messi and Suarez are playing as a pair, but with the Argentine dropping deeping to help link the play. It will be interesting to see if the former Barcelona duo can reignite their old partnership.
Clear to see from the off that Inter Miami are starting off in the 5-3-2 used by Tata Martino towards the end of 2023. New signing Julian Gressel starts at right wing-back, with DeAndre Yedlin shuffling into a more central position in the backline.
And we're off!
Inter Miami get their 2024 campaign underway...
There's a festive atmosphere tonight but there is also serious business to take care of. With such high expectations on this Inter Miami team they must make a fast start. Luis Suarez comes straight into the starting XI to join his old pal Lionel Messi.
We're nearly ready for kick-off...
Kick off is fast approaching now, both teams out on the field in San Salvador.
Inter Miami are away from home but pink and black shirts seem to make up the majority of the stands at Estadio Cuscatlan.
'Messi 10' dominates in El Salvador
Throughout 2023 there were reports of stores running out of the Lionel Messi jerseys, one of the most in-demand sports kits in the world. And it's clear to see why.
On tonight's evidence, it seems that the global supply of 'Messi 10' jerseys has been snapped up by soccer fans in El Salvador. Estadio Cuscatlan is awash with the iconic jersey ahead of tonight's friendly clash.
Inter Miami take to the stage at Estadio Cuscatlan
The lights are on and all eyes are on Lionel Messi's Inter Miami for their preseason opener in El Salvador. Some have, with some justification, criticized Miami's preseason exploits as a cynical commercial ploy, but tonight's Game has the feel of a big moment for the team and for MLS more generally.
Messi and co. had a massive impact on the team's fortunes after their mid-season arrival in 2023, but the real test of there influence will come this year. With a full preseason to get their house in order, Miami need to start fast when the league begins next month. That journey, starts today.
Lionel Messi, always the main attraction
Everyone's desperate to see Lionel Messi, including El Salvador's Presidential Press Secretary. The official government account has tweeted out this footage of the "campeon del mundo" arriving at Estadio Cuscatlan for the friendly game.
Inter Miami's much-discussed preseason tour is certainly capturing the attention.
MLS
‘Messimania’ takes hold as Inter Miami arrive in El Salvador
We're around 40 minutes away from kick-off now and the atmosphere is really building. There's nothing on the line competitively this evening, but there is a real sense of history as Inter Miami embark on their first full season with Lionel Messi and co.
There are few sports tickets anywhere in the world that are more coveted than an Inter Miami game at the moment. As Diego Gorostieta shows here, the locals in El Salvador are eager to get a glimpse of the MLS tourists.
Read more
And they're out!
Wasting little time, Inter Miami are out on the field to inspect conditions at Estadio Cuscatlan.
Tata martino has named a full-strength side for this preseason friendly, reuniting Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for the first time since they played together at Barcelona. Three and a half years on, will that famed connection still be there?
Messi arrives at Estadio Cuscatlan
Quite the reception for the recently-crowned FIFA The Best Male Footballer. Huge crowds have gathered to see Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates stroll in, and there seems to be plenty of pink-shirted supporters in attendance.
One important omission for the Herons tonight: goalkeeper Drake Callender is unavailable as he's away on international duty.
USMNT have selected a squad of young MLS-based players for a training camp and international friendly against Slovenia. The camp is designed to give head coach Berhalter a chance to see some potential additions to the senior squad.
Messi and Suarez start together for Inter Miami!
Well, would you look at that. Any suggestions that Tata Martino might look to ease the Herons into preseason has been dispelled tonight as the Inter Miami head coach names a full-strength squad.
It looks like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will start as a duo, with Busquets, Gregore and Cremaschi playing as a central three.
ICYMI: Inter Miami arrive in San Salvador
Here are the astonishing scenes from San Salvador, El Salvador last night as the Inter Miami team bus arrived at the hotel. This jam-packed preseason schedule is designed to help amplify the club's brand overseas and capitalize on Messi's presence.
It certainly seems to be having quite an effect.
Inter Miami arrive at Estadio Cuscatlan
They're here! A swarm of pink has entered Estatdio Cuscatlan, which must mean that the Herons are in attendance. There's big smiles, cheery waves and maté all round for Inter Miami.
MLS
Goals galore: The last time Messi and Suárez played together
Tonight, for the first time in three and a half years, Lionel Messi will line up alongside Luis Suarez.
The South American duo made History at Barcelona and they occupy the first and third spots in the club's all-time scoring charts. No prizes for guessing who bagged top spot...
With Messi and Suarez set to reunite for Inter Miami, here's a look back at their last appareance together.
Read more
Hello and welcome to AS USA, where we will be bringing you live coverage of the opening fixture of 2024 for Inter Miami.
The Herons head to San Salvador to take on the El Salvador national team with a team strengthened over the off-season. Not content with a trio of ex-Barcelona stars, Miami have thrown Luis Suarez into the mix to join his old pal Lionel Messi in the frontline.
Julian Gressel has arrived from MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew and there is enormous anticipation for Inter Miami this year.
I'm US soccer correspondent Will Gittins, let's see if Inter Miami can get 2024 off to a winning start...
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