Messi scores as Inter Miami open new stadium with a draw in the MLS

Miami captain scored his team’s first goal after David Beckham said the Nu Stadium was a ‘dream come true’ for Miami.Lionel Messi marked the opening of Inter Miami’s gleaming new stadium with a goal as the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions battled to a 2-2 draw against Austin FC.Inter Miami’s co-owner, David Beckham, was among the star-studded crowd as the club’s 26,000-capacity Nu Stadium made its debut on Saturday, marking the end of a more-than-a-decade-long journey to find a permanent home.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Iranian women footballers reveal ‘enormous pressure’ of the Asian Cup sagalist 2 of 4‘Take me to America’: Bosnian joy as the Dragons take off for the World Cuplist 3 of 4‘An incredible feeling’: Turkiye celebrates ending 24-year World Cup waitlist 4 of 4The World Cup lineup is complete. These 48 teams are going to North Americaend of list“To see this stadium come to life, after years and years of trying to get this stadium up and running in Miami, is something that’s very special,” Beckham said shortly before kickoff.“I came to America in the MLS 20 years ago, and I made a lot of promises. And 13 years ago, I made a lot of promises again, announcing I was coming to Miami.“Today it’s just a dream come true for us.”Inter Miami fans wave flags in Nu Stadium before the team’s first MLS match at their new home stadium [Rebecca Blackwell/AP]While the match kicked off in celebratory fashion, with Beckham joining billionaire Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas in a pre-game ribbon-cutting ceremony, Austin refused to follow the script.The Texas club, who went into the game with only one win from five matches, stunned the home crowd after only six minutes, with Guilherme Biro nodding in a corner from Facundo Torres to make it 1-0 to the visitors.Messi, though, did not take long to open his account in his new surroundings.Right-back Ian Fray burst down the flank and crossed for Messi, who equalised with a rare headed goal to make it 1-1 four minutes later.