Lionel Messi saves Inter Miami in 92nd minute against LA Galaxy

Lionel Messi saved Inter Miami in the 92nd minute to claim a point against LA Galaxy on Sunday night.

Gerardo Martino's side kicked off the new MLS season with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Thursday.

Talisman Messi registered an assist on that occasion but he stepped up to the mark in a bigger way in his latest outing.

Inter found themselves 1-0 down in the 75th minute after Dejan Joveljic broke the deadlock for the hosts.

Galaxy then went down to ten men as Marco Delgado, the man who supplied the assist, was sent off for a challenge on Sergio Busquets.

Messi capitalised on the man advantage and popped up with the leveller in stoppage time.

He picked up the ball deep in midfield and exchanged passes with Jordi Alba, who picked him out with a cut-back inside the area.

Messi then finished powerfully with his left foot to ensure Inter remain unbeaten after two games.

Alba🤝 Messi

Alba to Messi to level the game in LA! pic.twitter.com/mZKgOib94O

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 26, 2024

It was yet another clutch late goal from Messi in a Herons shirt and the combination play from Alba evoked memories of their link-up play in Barcelona colours.

There were Barca connections all over the pitch at Dignity Health Sports Park, with former Blaugrana youngster Riqui Puig missing a first-half penalty for Galaxy.

And Martino hailed the genius of Messi for snatching a point late on.

Speaking to Apple TV, he said: “It's true that they dominated the first half, especially with the period in which Riqui Puig had the most amount of time with the ball and made the team play very well.

"They recently got their last two DPs and because of that, the team looks completely different. Because they have a great No. 9 and also two dangerous wingers, and also they're very solid defensively. But then we had the personality to continue searching, and we reached the tie, well, you could say with the genius of Leo."

Inter are back in action on Saturday when they host Orlando City at Chase Stadium.