Al Nassr 6-0 Inter Miami: summary, score, goals, highlights | Riyadh Season Cup
Al Nassr - Inter Miami: as it happened
Make no mistake, this result is a major embarrassment for Inter Miami as they look to prepare for the new MLS season which gets underway in 20 days.
From the opening whistle, Inter Miami were outclassed with Al Nassr sharper and the better side.
Talisca looks like the kind of striker Inter miami should be looking at rather than veteran Luis Suarez and there is still so much work for Tata Martino to do on a porous rear guard.
Messi played for a testimonial six minutes but the damage was already done.
Inter Miami now head to Hong Kong with plenty of work ahead.
The whistle sounds and Al Nassr run out with a 6-0 win.
We're in the final minute of the 90.
Messi getting a solid cheer each time the Argentine touches the ball as we will have six minutes of added time.
Less than five minutes left in Riyadh and a seventh goal for the Saudi side not beyond the realms of possibility.
And with one pass, Messi shows more quality than Inter Miami have mustered in the entire game.
Messi time ....
Seven minutes for Messi to delight the Saudi fans.
Five Al Nassr subs taking place with Talisca one of the quintet leaving the action.
Messi briefly warmed up but would you want to come on in a game like this if you are the best player in the world ?
Al Nassr pushing for a seventh.
Does this mean that the Saudi League is that better than MLS... no....
Inter Miami are starting a fresh their new season with Al Nassr halfway through their campaign but .... 6-0 is not a good look.
Talisca bags his hat-trick.
VAR being checked and the goal is given.
The goal is being checked....
Talisca drives the ball into the back of the net but the Brazilian was inches offside.
A great finish nonetheless and how much Inter Miami could use a player like that !
Less than 20 minutes and plenty of time for Al Nassr to add to their tally.
Maran delivering a looping header to add to the humiliation for Inter Miami at the Kingdom Arena.
... and its five
Still no changes for Inter Miami as we head towards the 70 minute mark.
Luis Suarez almost finds the net but the Al Nassr sub keeper does well and pushes the ball over for a corner.
Fatil and Al Hassan on
Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem and Alamri off
Al Nassr players queuing up to shoot.
The only consolation for Inter Miami is that next up, they will have, at least on paper, what should be the easiest game of the tour as they face a Hong Kong XI on Sunday.
Luis Suarez has been full of endeavour for Inter Miami but at 37-years-of age, the striker looks sluggish.
Brozovic carded as he fouls Gregory.
Talisca to take.
The Brazilian makes no mistake and slots home to make it 4-0
Just four minutes gone and Al Nassr break and cut through the Inter Miami side with ease and are awarded a spot kick as Callender brings down Maran and it's a penalty.
Off we go again at the Kingdom Arena.
All set for the second 45.
The men in yellow will start the action.
There will be the inevitable series of changes here in Riyadh as the players take to the field again.
This is only pre-season, so nothing for Tata Martino to be concerned about...
Not sure if that's the case with winning games contagious ....
Inter Miami's defence was suspect all last season and we saw it look shaky on Monday in the Al Hilal game and the first 12 minutes of tonight's game would concern any coach....
Telles with a great chance to make it four but the left back blazes high and wide as the half time whistle sounds.
Inter Miami, despite a dreadful start, have grown into this game but at the present the goal still eludes the men in pink.
Despite this being a friendly game, the tackles are really flying in.
8 minutes of added time herev in Riyadh.
Final minute of the half and things have eased down after a frantic opening.
Al Nassr sitting that little bit deeper now.
Possession
Al Nassr 49-51 Inter Miami
The ref has cards in her hand....
Yellow for Busquets and one for Boushal.
Things getting feisty now as players square up after Talisca was fouled.
Boushal then decided to take matters into his own hand and scythed down the Inter Miami man.
Inter Miami trail
Am sure this was painful for the Inter Miami comms. manager as the Herons shipped three goals in the first ten minutes.
This looks bad.
Luis Suarez gets fouled by Al Amri and the striker is in some distress.
The 'Pistolero' gets to his feet and the good news is that he looks okay to carry on.
Ten minutes of the half remain and Campana forces Abdullah into action.
Much better from the MLS side but they need a goal to add a touch of respectability to this scoreline.
The ball falls to Campana on the edge of the Al Nassr box but the Inter Miami man is far too slow and is robbed by a defender in yellow.
Terrible news as Ospina is forced off due a muscular problem as Abdullah takes the Colombian's place.
Suarez goes close for Inter Miami but Ospina saves well and now needs medical attention.
Looks like a muscular problem for the Colombian.
Al Nassr break and Inter Miami are looking so vulnerable down their right hand side.
Al Aliwa getting the shot off and Callender saving well.
Inter Miami seemed to have ridden the waves and shock of the opening minutes.
The MLS men now looking to strike down their right hand side.
Normally Al Nassr home games are rowdy affairs with the home fans generating decent levels of noise.
That is absent tonight and this game really does have the feel of an exhibition match.
Tonight's game is not being played at Al Awwal Park but at the new Kingdom Arena.
So, as we reach the 20 minute mark, it's been one way traffic for the home side.
Inter Miami second in every department and Nassr keeper Ospina having a placid evening so far.
Three nil...
What a strike !!!!
Laporte from deep inside his own half with a free kick....
Where was the keeper but what a hit from the former Athletic Bilbao man....
That is some goal !
Second goal for Al Nassr as Talisca finds the target.
Again, too easy for the Saudi side.
Inter give the ball away and Otavio finds the Brazilian....
The Inter Miami defending is really shoddy and am sure is a cause of concern for Tata Martino.
Gooooooool
Al Nassr go ahead and it's Portuguese international Otavio who skips into the box, turns and slots into the corner.
Far, far too easy for Al Nassr.
Al Nassr earn a corner and once again, that leaky looking Inter Miami defense looked lethargic.
The home side dominating.
Off we go in Riyadh.
Inter Miami start the action.
We're all set in Riyadh.
23,697 miles is the total distance that Inter Miami will cover as part of their globe trotting preseason.
No comments !
First up a few words from Turki Al Sheikh (owner of Almeria and a high ranking figure in the Saudi governement)
Smiles all round as the players are presented ....
Messi takes his place on the bench.
Cristiano is sitting with the dignitaries in the VIP box.
The teams take to the field....
Inter Miami in pink, Al Nassr in yellow... a packed house in Riyadh awaits.
Tightness in the left hamstring muscle is apparently the reason why the Rosario born player has been rested this evening.
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Some of the comments on Twitter/X are bewildering regarding Messi's absence.
Folk seem to forget that Messi is a, human and b, an athlete well in his 30s !
We'll try and get a little more info. on the Messi injury but it does like a precautionary measure due to muscle discomfort.
No Messi for Miami
The Argentine fails even to make the bench thus confirming our early suspicions.
Suarez and Campana lead the line for the Herons.
So, it does look that Messi will not start tonight's game...
Nothing official as yet but that's the message we're getting so far.
Yellow and blue the predominant colour tonight
The fans continue to flock into the stadium and despite a handful of Inter Miami and Argentina shirts, it's the yellow and blue of Al Nassr that dominate.
Fans start to fill the Kingdom Arena
Kick-off looms in Riyadh ahead of the 9pm (local time) start.
Still awaiting the Inter Miami team news and with the delay, the doubts about Messi starting begin to grow.....
and the Al Nassr XI in English
Telles and Otavio also start for the Roshn Saudi side. Colombian stopper Ospina mans the sticks.
McVey destined for DC
Just prior to tonight's Riyadh game, Inter Miami have confirmed that in exchange for defender McVey they have acquired another international roster slot...
let the speculation begin !
Messi in 'discomfort'
Not a great omen with this breaking news from ESPN that Messi is not fully fit.
Obviously the Argentine is the main calling card for Inter Miami on this ambitious preseason tour and his presence will lead to full houses.
However, the main purpose of a preseason is to get the players properly so am confident that Tata Martino will take no foolish risks with the captain.
Cristiano arrives at the stadium
Despite being ruled out of the game against Inter Miami tonight, Cristiano has joined the Al Nassr expedition who have just arrived at the Kingdom Arena Stadium.
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The Messi bandwagon keeps rolling
The Argentine star appears in a pre NFL Super Bowl ad for a famous beer with Ted Lasso and NFL legend Dan Marino making a guest appearance....
Possible Inter Miami XI
We should have the official team news in roughly 30 minutes but Tata Martino could start tonight's match with the following XI: Callender; Yedlin, Allen, Kryvtsov, Avilés, Alba; Gressel, Busquets, Taylor; Messi, Suárez.
All set in Riyadh
The dressing rooms at the Kingdom Arena Stadium in Riyadh are ready with both sides set to sport their traditional colours tonight.
Al Nassr in yellow and the Herons in pink.
Al Nassr in turn are also getting ready for the second phase of the Saudi season and will be in AFC Champions League action as they face Al Feiha after completing the Riyadh Season Cup with a derby against Al Hilal.
Inter Miami's ambitious and energy zapping pre-season has yet to see Tata Martino's men record a win as they drew 0-0 with the El Salvador national side, then fell 10 to FC Dallas and then slipped up again 4-3 against Saudi Pro League table toppers Al Hilal 4-3 in a game where the Herons shipped four goals cheaply.
After today's second Riyadh test, the MLS side take on Hong Kong (select XI) and J-League side Vissel Kobe before returning Stateside.
Al Nassr are ready
No Cristiano but still some big names for the home side with Laporte, Talisca and Brozovic set to see some action this evening.
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The big news, and not that what many wanted to hear is that Cristiano Ronaldo is ruled out of tonight's game through injury with the Portuguese still not 100% fit.
A slight disappointment for the many hoping for the recent greats of the game (Messi and CR7) gracing the same pitch together, possibly for the last time.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Inter Miami's second game in Riyadh as they face Al Nassr with kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT.