Al-Hilal - Inter Miami summary: score, goals & highlights, Riyadh Season Cup friendly
Al-Hilal - Inter Miami: as it happened
That's all, folks!
Let's leave it there. Thanks for joining in on the action in Saudi Arabia and make sure to check out AS USA for all the latest sport news from around the globe!
Joe
Full-time thoughts:
There are, fundamentally, two ways to look at this game: Miami finally scored goals/Miami really didn't stop conceding them.
Ahead of kick-off, Inter Miami had scored zero goals and conceded one in 2024, losing and drawing in a pair of drab affairs. After the game, those totals - and opinions - had certainly changed.
Let's go chronologically: Inter Miami's shambolic first half saw them torn apart, ragged from pillar to post by Al-Hilal.
The Saudi side came flying out of the blocks and scored two quick-fire efforts, taking advantage of Tata's side whose defensive line was as organised as a spilled bag of rice.
Suárez closed the gap and looked to have set things up for the second half but the Miami mojo was not there: The Herons could not cope with the attacking play from Al-Hilal, who could have scored 6.
At half-time, the score was 3-1, with Michael taking advantage of more terrible defending to score a close-range headeras the pink shirts stood and watched late on.
The second half saw Miami awarded a penalty (which Messi scored) but before we could settle back into our seats, Ruiz - who was superb - had drawn level with a sensational strike that made everything forget about the first-half disasterclass and focus on the glass-half-full side of the debate.
However, it was not to be, and another weak moment at the back allowed Malcom to slip in and get a late winner for the Saudi side who, on reflection, deserved to win.
Up next for Miami and Messi: Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr.
FULL-TIME!
That's all! Al-Hilal win a crazy game!
MALCOM FIRES OVER THE BAR
Al-Hilal have a free-kick on the right corner of the box.
This will surely be the last action of the game.
McVey is booked for a late challenge on Mitrovic.
HUGE SAVE FROM CALLENDER
Milinkovic-Savic sent Michael through with a sensational pass down the right wing, and Callender got a strong hand to the curling effort towards the far post!
Gressel sends a hopeful ball through the Saudi defence but Campana is no Usain Bolt and can't chase it down before it lands in Habib's grasp.
6 added minutes.
That's cruel for Miami, who had attacked well, but the defending from The Herons was - again - as weak as wet paper.
Into the final minute of normal time.
It's devastatingly simple: the cross is sailed in from the right as Miami are caught off-guard and Malcom is all alone in the six-yard box to head past Callender!
MALCOM
Another Miami substitute:
OFF: Messi
ON: Taylor
Hearts are in Miami mouths as cross after cross is cleared by the players in pink. Somehow they manage to get them away, and Miami survive.
Miami string together a delightful move from back to front, but it breaks down as Gressel's pass is cut out at the back.
Inter Miami are packed tightly in their own half and are looking for chances on the counter that have just started to arrive. Gressel is slid in behind but Habib gets out well to cover.
It's Al-Hilal who look the more likely to score as we enter into the final 10 minutes. They're pressuring Inter Miami back into their own defensive third.
OVER THE BAR!
Jahfali fires the shot over from a tight angle!
Al-Hilal have a free-kick on the left, to be crossed in...
CALLENDER SAVES MALCOM'S SHOT
The ex-Barça winger runs horizontally from right to left before aiming for the far post. Callender gets down well to stop the effort squeaking in.
Inter Miami make more changes:
OFF: Ruiz, Suárez
ON: Gregore, Campana
Another chance for Suárez... but he's miles offside. He was actually closer to Bahrain than Saudi Arabia as the ball dropped over the defence, but his volley was well saved by Habib.
Inter Miami change:
OFF: Kryvtsov
ON: McVey
Al-Hilal change:
OFF: Al-Hamdan
ON: Mohammed
Kryvstov's night is over. He can't continue.
Busquets flicks to Messi who opens to Alba on the left. The full-back crosses towards Suárez as well all travel back in time but the Uruguayan's touch lets him down and Inter Miami see the chance evaporate as the goalkeeper collects the loose ball.
He's carrying on and we're back underway.
Kryvstov is down and it looks like his night might be over.
He got the ball in his face as he cleared a cross.
Messi shoots over the bar but there was an offside in the build-up. Gressel was at least 4 yards behind the defence as the Argentine slid a ball through the lines. Poor positioning from the midfielder, who should have been more aware.
INTO THE SIDE NETTING
Al-Hamdan is played in behind by Lodi and his shot bends round the goalkeeper and into the side netting!
SAVE FROM CALLENDER
Malcom's corner was met by Mitrovic who sent a bullet header towards goal that was well caught!
Neves tries to find Lodi at the back post but his cross is cleared away by Yedlin.
Inter Miami have found a new spirit from somewhere and are chasing down every ball and finding their teammates in build-up.
Al-Hilal, meanwhile, are keeping their calm and trying to hold the ball in the hope that the adrenaline levels drop from those in pink.
AL-HILAL GO CLOSE
Milinkovic-Savic sees his shot deflected just over the bar!
Ruiz is possessed: he's everywhere!
The midfielder races back to stop a dangerous attack from the Saudi side and launches his team forward with a ferocious run out from the back!
Back underway! What a game!
Inter Miami go on the offensive and Messi slides in Ruiz, who cuts inside and fires a rocket low and hard past Habib at the near post!
RUIZ GOLAZO
Messi steps up...
It's going to be Messi (obviously) to take...
PENALTY TO MIAMI!
The replay shows Ruiz certainly had a case for a penalty there...
Penalty shouts go up for Ruiz who goes down int he box. The referee waves away the cries from the midfielder and Al-Hilal counter, with Allen defending well at the back for The Herons.
Ah, the goal, had it happened, would have been ruled out for offside.
CHANCE FOR INTER MIAMI
Yedlin is played in behind and crosses to Suárez, who can't reach it. Alba tries to shoot but the ball is stabbed away by the defender.
Al-HIlal start off controlling the ball and making Miami work to get a sniff in the opening stages of the second period.
No changes for either side for the start of the half.
And we're off!
Al-Hilal get us going for the second half.
We're still waiting on the Miami players...
An incredibly serious-faced Tata Martino has just come out onto the pitch.
The Miami players are still in the tunnel.
Sofascore says...
The wizards at SofaScore HQ have given Drake Callender a 5.7 for that half. I think that's unfair, as his defence in front of him has been non-existent. All of the defenders in pink score 6.2 or lower, except Alba, who has a 6.5.
Luis Suárez is Inter Miami's highest scorer with 7.0.
The highest-rated player on the pitch after 45 minutes is Al-Hamdan, with 7.9.
Half-time stats:
AL-HILAL - INTER MIAMI
Possession [%]: 65-35
Shots: 7-5
Shotsontarget: 4-1
Saves: 0-1
Big chances: 3-3
Big chances missed: 2-2
Clearances: 3-10
Some snaps from the first half
There's Miami's new kit in all its glory. However, it's not giving them much luck thus far...
Half-time thoughts:
Apart from 10 brief minutes of what looked like a comeback, Inter Miami have been outclassed on all fronts by an Al-Hilal side who look like they could score 5 or 6 with ease.
The goals came from the high press that Miami could not cope with, and their defensivedisasterclass has been on show for the full 45. I don't want to be too harsh on them, but a serious lack of confidence already looks to have cracked both Aviles and Allen, who can't deal with the constant runs from Michael and Al-Hamdan, as well as the physicality of Mitrovic.
It has looked at times like schoolyard football, with one older class toying with the youngsters.
Miami can cling onto the fact that they have, at times, looked dangerous, and potentially could have more than just one goal. But if they are to get a decent result from the game, they either need to reinforce the defence or go all-out attack.
Half-time!
Miami's pink shirts trudge off the pitch with their eyes planted on the ground.
We're into the final minute of the half.
Messi recovers in Al-Hilal's half but the foul is given against the World Cup winner as he races towards goal on his own.
MITROVIC FIRES WIDE!
The ex-Fulham forward hit a dropping ball but the contact was poor and he sent it wide from close range.
Everything Inter Miami's defenders are doing ends in chaos: clearances are being spooned into the air, runners are not being marked, crosses are not being cleared... it's a class in how not to defend your goal right now.
6 added minutes.
Again, it's way too simple for the Saudi side, who are having no problems whatsoever in cutting, slicing and tearingthrough the pink defence.
Michael bursts into the box before opening to Al-Hamdan, who chips a cross back towards him as he continues his run.
Miami's static defenders allow the shortest player on the side to leap into the air and head over Callender.
Callender does well to catch a wonderful Lodi cross from deep. Al-Hilal are pushing back!
Five minutes of normal time to go. The game has exploded!
Suárez plays Messi through and the Argentine slots past the goalkeeper but the replay shows that the Uruguayan was actually in an offside position earlier in the move. That was a very tight call...
NO! OFFSIDE!
Game on?
We've got a pause in play as it seems that Jahfali was actually the player who tapped the ball forward to Suárez, not Gressel...
Inter Miami have the ball is in the back of the net but the flag is up: Suárez got on the end of Gressel's shot but the replay shows he was indeed ahead of his teammate as he shaped to shoot.
Gressel gets in behind the defence down the right but the cross towards Suárez is terrible and the Uruguayan's chance to shoot goes begging.
Half an hour gone and the home side have just started to pick things up again, pushing their opponents back once more...
CHANCE FOR AL-HILAL
That could well have been number three. It's delightfully simple for the Saudi side: Milinkovic-Savic sails a long ball over the top from deep for Michael to run onto. He collects and smashes a shot at the leg of Callender who got off his line well.
It looks like a good chance missed by Busquets who hangs around near the goal as the corner isn't cleared by Al-Hilal.
The lineswoman raises her flag but the replay shows it was not offside as the midfielder stabbed the bouncing ball just over the bar from close range.
Inter Miami win a corner but Messi sails it way over the heads of those in the box and it bounces out for a set piece on the left side.
Despite the onslaught, there's certainly an avenue to explore down Al-Hilal's right side, behind Al-Shahrani, who is advancing extremely highly up the wing.
Habib saves but it's offside: Alba's cross was delightful towards Suárez at the far post but there was a player in an illegal position earlier in the move.
Al-Hilal, as you might expect given their two-goal lead, have dropped off Inter Miami and are allowing them the ball in their defensive third.
We're back underway and Al-Hilal are spraying the ball around like it's made of sunshine and happiness. When Inter Miami touch it, it turns into lead and mud.
Milinkovic-Savic is down with what looks like a hamstring problem.
Wow, this is no contest at the moment - every attack from the home side is causing Miami to panic and the defence look like lost lambs as the blue shirts come flying at them time and time again.
CHANCE FOR INTER MIAMI
Luis Suárez misses a golden chance from inside the box as Alba fires a low cross from the wing!
It's easy to say but a few years ago he'd haveslotted that into the bottom corner.
It's a shambles from The Herons, who are at sixes and sevens at the back. The ball is not cleared out as it's fired into the box and Al-Hamdan only has to place the shot low and into the corner as the defence stand still in the box and watch it fly past Callender.
AL-HAMDAN
It's a clear foul as the ex-Barça player is taken out inside the box. No penalty from the referee.
HUGE PENALTY SHOUT FOR AL-HILAL
Malcom was certainly fouled inside the box!
Malcom plays inside to Milinkovic-Savic, who doesn't need a touch to bounce the ball forward into Mitrovic, who slips in behind the defence down the left. He opens up his body as he controls the ball and makes no mistake as he smashes the shot into the far corner.
MITROVIC
CHANCE FOR INTER MIAMI
Ruiz fires down the left side and cuts in onto his right. He fires a decent shot towards the far post but Gressel jumps across the path of the ball and is blown for offside.
CHANCE FOR AL-HILAL
Al-Hilal break and it's 3vs1 at the back as the away side are caught out. Mitrovic can't get the ball across goal and Callender sweeps up superbly well.
The away side are settling into the game, it seems, and are beginning to play some nice passing triangles on the right side of the pitch. However, Al-Hilal's recoveries are efficient and the breaks from the wingers look deadly early on.
It's nice work from The Herons to work the ball out to Suárez on the left, but he's chased down after a 30-yard sprint and the home side recover once again.
Corner to Al-Hilal. Allen clears a heavy touch from Michael as the ball is played low and hard into the box from the right.
The first shot of the game comes from the edge of the box by Al-Hamdan, who smashes high over the bar.
Al-Hilal press incredibly high and almost pluck the ball from the feet of Callender again. Miami work it out of their own half - just - but the home side soon win it back.
It's a shaky start from the away side who play back to Callender before watching him slice a clearance into the air. Al-Hilal collect and win a corner that's cleared.
And we're off!
Suárez gets us going in Riyadh!
Habib is in goal for the home side, who are without Bono as he's on AFCON duty. Al-Hilal will play with or without him, it seems. Hopefully the less experienced stopper in goal doesn't get vertigo going up against Messi and Suárez.
A quick rendition of the Saudi national anthem and we should be good to go.
We're all ready to go... but first we've got a speech on the pitch by the Saudis in charge. 'Welcome to Saudi Arabia' is the gist of his message.
Here come the players!
Plenty of hugs and hi-fives inside the tunnel between the two sides
We're still waiting for the green light, but for now, everyone seems to be in a great mood. Smiles all around.
Messi is currently being hugged by around 30 children inside the players' tunnel.
Wow, that was some light show...
If you know me, I absolutely love* light shows and fireworks before a game, and that was no different...
*hate
TEN TO GO!
Go grab your favourite snack and a drink, get sat down somewhere comfortable and enjoy the coverage!
It's time for the light show!
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Inter Miami are set to debut their new home strip in today's game. Dubbed 2getherness, the kit uses a colour called "Easy Pink", a slightly darker shade than the one used last season, when Inter Miami won Leagues Cup 2023.
Not long to go!
The stadium is filling up with fans in the mood for goals! It's a fantastic atmosphere inside the Kingdom Arena ahead of the game today, and to be honest, the closer we get to kick-off, the less sure I feel about a win for the home side...
A reminder of the starting XIs:
If you've just joined us - welcome!
Here's how the two teams line up as they step out onto the pitch for their pre-match warmups!
AL-HILAL:
GK: Al-Wutaian
DEF: Al-Shahrani - Jahfali - Al-Dawsari - Lodi
MID: Sergei - Neves - Michael
ATT: Malcom - Mitrovic - Al-Hamdan
***
INTER MIAMI:
GK: Callender
DEF: Yedlin - Allen - Krytsov - Aviles - Alba
MID: Ruiz - Busquets - Gressel
ATT: Messi - Suárez
Recent form for both sides:
Here's a nice look at the recent form of both sides, thanks (again) to the lovely people in white coats at BeSoccerPro Towers.
Inter Miami's is a mish-mash of yellow and red, highlighting their late-season struggles that have filteredover into the preparations for the 2024 campaign. Al-Hilal, meanwhile is an all-green delight.
What is the Riyadh Season Cup?
Dear reader, that is a sensational question. The Riyadh Season Cup is a tournament that puts Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo and Said Arabia's best team, Al-Hilal.
It is commonly labelled as "a Saudi Arabian state-funded entertainment and sport festival", which I think fits the bill. Apart from the football we've got today, there are other events that form part of what is known as Riyadh Season, such as the Spanish Super Cup and the Supercoppa Italia.
Al-Hilal season stats
Here’s a fantastic overview of Miami’s opponents today.
Al-Hilal, as you can see from the BeSoccerPro stats, are running away with things in all aspects of the game, with their players all putting out fantastic numbers as they continue to tear through anyone who sets foot on a football pitch with them.
We’ve got Mitrovic on 25 goals, Michael with 98 successful dribbles, Al-Abdulhamid with 35 key passes and Al-Dawsari with over 200 duels won.
The Barcelona quartet make the XI once again...
So far, the performance of the side hasn't been what some fans had expected, with no goals scored and one conceded in two games that have been, if we're honest, a little drab.
However, there's no time like the present, and Al-Hilal will force Inter Miami to step up their game... or potentially get crushed.
Finally! Inter Miami team revealed
Tata didn't forget his notebook - here's the team news!
Callender is in goal ahead of a back 5 of Alba, Allen, Kryvtsov, Aviles and Yedlin.
In midfield, Busquets patrols alongside Ruiz and Gressel. Up top we have Luis Suárez and a lad called Messi.
The Herons arrive at the stadium...
Inter Miami's squad have arrived at the stadium ahead of kick-off!
Who are Al-Hilal's star players?
During the summer, theSaudiclub spent over €300 million on various big names from Europe.
· Neymar - €90m
· Malcom - €60m
· Ruben Neves - €55m
· Mitrovic- €52m
· Milinkovic-Savic - €42m
· Koulibaly - €23m
· Bono - €21m
And they've just signed Renan Lodi, who is making his debut today, for €23 million.
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A new signing joined The Herons a few days ago as Nicolás Freire joined the club onloan from Pumas UNAM.
“I’m looking forward to joining the group and dedicating myself to working hard here. This is an ambitious club that dreams big and I’m excited to help us compete for titles,” said Freire.
Awaiting Inter Miami team news...
Tata Martino's starting XI shouldn't be long, and if the previous tweet from the club is anything to go by, could we see the Fantastic 4 line up from the start once again?
Where's Neymar?
While it’s something of a theme for Inter Miami, one ex-Barcelona star who won’t be on the pitch today is Neymar.
In August 2023, the Blue Waves paid around $100 million to sign Neymar Jr. from PSG, but the Brazilian winger is suffering from a cruciate ligament tear and will be out for the foreseeable future.
Here's the home side's starting XI!
Here's how manager Jorge Jesus has chosen to start the game today.
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Royal Caribbean were announced as the new logo on the front of the Inter Miami shirt, to be worn by Messi and co in the 2024 MLS season.
As you might have guessed by the name, they're a cruise company that specialise in luxury trips across the world, although they don't have any holidays scheduled for Saudi Arabia. Not just quite yet, anyway.
More snaps of the 2getherness kit:
Here's a closer look at the Inter Miami home shirt for the 2024 MLS season.
Inter Miami's pre-season results: a roundup
Inter Miami’s pre-season tests are coming thick and fast now, and their results have left fans wanting more ahead of the 2024 MLS season.
Their first game of the new year was a forgettable 0-0 draw against El Salvador, a game which was followed up by a slim 1-0 loss to FC Dallas which was settled by a Jesus Ferreira goal in the third minute.
The Leagues Cup 2023 champions held their own against their opponents, but the star-studded lineup were unable to break down their MLS opponents.
Today, however, will certainly be the toughest test so far.
Inter Miami’s pre-season schedule:
Here’s how things look in Inter Miami’s diary for the upcoming month of February ahead of their MLS 2024 opener…
· January 20 vs El Salvador (0-0DRAW)
· January 23 vs FC Dallas (1-0LOSS)
· January 29 vs Al-Hilal
· 1 February vs Al Nassr
· February 4 vs Hong Kong
· February 7 vs Vissel Kobe
· February 15 vs Newell’s Old Boys
***
· February 21 vs Real Salt Lake - MLS opener
Fans are already inside the stadium!
The levels of anticipation are high for the tie which is set to put two of the most exciting teams outside of Europe against each other.
Edina Alves Batista is the referee for the game. The 43-year-old comes from Goioerê in Brazil and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2016.
While her normal line of work sees her referee games in the Brazilian women’s first division, she also has World Cup experience, taking charge of games at both France 2019 and Australia & New Zealand 2023, blowing the whistle in Spain’s triumph over Sweden in the semi-finals.
Al-Hilal pre-game press conference:
Tomorrow’s match is considered one of the most important matches for us, not only on the field but also off it.
This global phenomenon is the talk of the world and will be shown on television everywhere. It is an opportunity to show the development that this country has reached.
A big match awaits us tomorrow and we are excited about it.
We will play against a team with the best player in the world. I have faced Messi before, but every match is different and tomorrow’s match has its own preparations.
How to watch the game...
Want to watch the game live on TV or on your streaming device?
Well, you're in luck, here's all the info you need to get the game in front of you, as well as following online with AS USA.
A sneak peek inside the stadium...
With kick-off around 90 minutes away, here's how things look inside the 40,000-seater Kingdom Arena.
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The Saudi side have - wait for it - won their last 20 games with 19 clean sheets!
They look in simply unstoppable form and despite not having played for a couple of weeks and with their main goalkeeper and defender out, the quality and confidence they have in the middle and final third should probably be too much for Miami to deal with.
Despite the absences in today's game, the squad is still sensational and feels more like a video game team than anything else. We take a closer look at the players in blue in our Al-Hilal squad guide.
Miami release new home shirt
Inter Miami have released their new home shirt for the 2024 campaign.
With 'Freedom to Dream' sewn into the collar, 'Easy Pink' is used for the main colour, say the club.
"This adidas gear features AEROREADY technology as well as ventilated, mesh panels that work together to keep you dry and comfortable all game long. Its striking Inter Miami CF graphics will get you pumped to cheer on your favorite team as they take the field."
Who are we to argue with that?
A chance to make a statement...
Today, given the difficulty of the opponent, is a huge change for Inter Miami to make a statement and deliver a top performance against perhaps the best squad of players outside of Europe.
Al-Hilal’s squad reeks of class and talent, and a result, even a draw, against the Saudi side would certainly constitute progress for Martino’s men as they shape-up for the MLS 2024 season.
Team news: Inter Miami
The MLS side are dealing with the absence of Facundo Farías (cruciate ligament rupture) and Benjamín Cremaschi (surgery for a sports hernia), as well as Ian Fray, Franco Negri and Corentin Jean, who are all on the sidelines.
Team news: Al-Hilal
Bono and Koulibaly are on AFCON duty and Neymar is out with a cruciate injury.
Apart from that, it’s full steam ahead for Jorge Jesus’ men, who are in blistering form and looking to continue that against their MLS opponents today.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the AS USA live text coverage of Al-Hilal against Inter Miami in the Riyadh Season Cup.
It’s Joe here to guide you through the action as it happens in Saudi Arabia.
Kick-off is around 90 minutes away.