00:01To be a little bit more direct, and when Miami push numbers, see if they can hit them on the
00:06break.
00:06Bertramé, they're still looking to get that partnership going with Messi.
00:09Can they get him unlocked? Because that front four for DC can look scary.
00:15Away we go.
00:17The meeting of the original champions and the current kings.
00:21The new and the now against the old guard and the original standard bearer.
00:25We saw promising moments, especially in that home opener, where they were a little bit more open.
00:30They were difficult to play against the ball. They were combative.
00:33They're going to need a lot of that, especially in the central areas today.
00:36It's opened up here for Messi. Can't just squeeze it through for Bertramé.
00:40Now it's Rodrigo de Paul into the grasp of Sean Johnson.
00:45CONCACAF Champions Cup, that begins next week for them in the round of 16.
00:48That has been a massive target for Inter Miami, Jorge Mas.
00:52The owner mentioning that on the field with the MLS Cup trophy last year.
00:56So this team has massive ambitions.
00:59And Lionel Messi, we have to say, he's looking to defend the World Cup title with Argentina
01:04and wants to be in the best form of possible to continue to be the greatest of all time
01:10and to continue to push his legacy beyond what anybody could ever imagine.
01:19So then perhaps an opening for DC and the young homegrown Hopkins
01:24into the grasp of Dane St. Clair this time.
01:34Well, this exclusive net cam replay brought to you by AT&T, the first real opening for DC.
01:39Yeah, this is going to be the formula though for DC in transition to drive directly at the heart
01:44of that back line and Hopkins may be taking one more touch to get into a better position,
01:49but that's where they want to find him.
01:51Hopkins unable to gather on that occasion.
01:55Grown player from Virginia, Jackson Hopkins.
02:01There who has much admitted that DC United means a lot to him.
02:05It's a football club he followed since his early days starting supporting the sports.
02:18Here's Mikael.
02:24Messi.
02:30De Paul with that lovely ball over to the far side and the bright booted Silvetti.
02:35Alan involved as well, but the thrower goes to DC.
02:47So just short of the 17-minute mark at M&T Bank Stadium
02:51in front of a crowd of over 60,000 here, Caelan Kahn.
02:54What's the observation of the contest thus far?
02:56I think DC have been pretty pragmatic to begin this game.
03:00That's Arame looking to find a way through here.
03:02Forza Segovia and Rodrigo De Paul.
03:06Brilliant.
03:11DC United cut to ribbons.
03:14The champions off and running in Baltimore and pounce in pink.
03:19Just short of the 17th minute.
03:21One to MLS Cup last year that against the ball was where Inter Miami unlocked a new level.
03:27And it's Bertarame, the new signing, who picks off Bartlett there,
03:31picks his head up to Segovia, who overlooks Messi in this case.
03:34All the attention goes to him.
03:36And it's Rodrigo De Paul on the back post, takes his touch, sets it up,
03:40and then curls it perfectly into the top corner past Sean Johnson.
03:45It's a poor giveaway, time where DC had to be careful.
03:49But Bertarame, new number nine, wins it, starts the play,
03:53and the press from Miami pays off with the 1-0 advantage.
03:57Last season, just three clean sheets in the last 25 games in all competitions,
04:02and now they have to defend again as Messi charges forward.
04:05Bertarame combining with Messi, not once, but twice, and Peltola had to intervene.
04:13Gurukawa down the line.
04:17Just have gone to Tidy.
04:29The side that loves to get themselves forward into Messi!
04:38Almost a sense of inevitability!
04:43The world's fantasy footballer has his say again!
04:48At halftime against Orlando City, Mascherano brought in Silvetti,
04:53and he changed the game.
04:55And he starts him, and this is a beautiful ball in behind to Messi,
04:59who sets up the run beautifully.
05:01Keep thinking he's going to come underneath, and before you know it,
05:04he's behind your back, and at that point, it's helpless from Sean Johnson.
05:07How long, how many times have we seen this one come out?
05:11It's just a delicate little chip to the back post to put Inter-Miami up 2-0 here.
05:17M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
05:20Fantastic finish for Messi.
05:26It looks like they've stepped up their line of confrontation and made a slight switch as well.
05:32May open up an opportunity.
05:33It's Pirani!
05:34Very, very good challenge by Bright.
05:37A goal-saving challenge.
05:40Yannick Bright arriving in the nick of time for Inter-Miami.
05:49Right, as I was mentioning, one of the changes was putting Pirani up front instead of Jackson Hopkins,
05:54and he ends up right at the penalty spot, but doesn't have a sense of the time and pressure
06:00that's coming from behind him.
06:02Yannick Bright makes a perfect tackle from behind to recover,
06:06save what should have been a sure goal for D.C. United.
06:11Pirani, of course, joining from Santos in the Brasileira back in 2023.
06:16Seven goals last season, him to score this campaign.
06:19Here's to Paul, into Messi.
06:23Moura providing support from the wide areas.
06:26Messi looking to manoeuvre inside, though.
06:29Messi!
06:33Just looks like there's no danger.
06:34D.C. United have seven guys behind him,
06:36and he just slaloms across even a touch too long,
06:39and Servania just reached the playoff, the pass there,
06:43defends it immediately.
06:44He puts it right back in front of himself,
06:46and from there, he just tries to curl it towards that back post.
06:49It does not miss by much.
06:51Sometimes moving laterally, especially on that left foot,
06:55just continue to open up space to come towards that back post.
06:58A little bit for the referee's whistle.
07:00Into Miami may have found a way through again.
07:04That was a fortunate one,
07:05because into Miami,
07:07looking to get out in transition.
07:15D.C. United find a way back into it here.
07:20Mizuki Kurokawa.
07:22Angled ball into the back post.
07:24Hopkins back from whence it came.
07:26In the effort towards goal!
07:31It's well worked from D.C. to pick out that far post,
07:34and good communication there from Hopkins to lead this one.
07:37And how about that effort there from Lewis?
07:40The overhead kick.
07:42Just swiveling the hips up and over,
07:45and that does not miss by much.
07:47You can see the spin on the ball.
07:48It's just tailing.
07:49He's there, an opening for D.C. United.
07:55Right-booted Brazilian Peglo.
07:57Inviting ball played in.
07:59Headed away.
08:03It's another ball played in,
08:05and headed towards goal.
08:06And in the end,
08:08we've got a really good pace of defending.
08:10Had to get that one right
08:12because Inter-Miami were in
08:13with multiple numbers
08:14coming towards that far side
08:18in that transition moment
08:19with D.C. United leaving bodies
08:21in the box,
08:22trying to go for the corner.
08:24Quickly, Inter-Miami got out.
08:26Good tackle there from Kurokawa.
08:37Inter-Miami got out.
08:42Follow-up.
08:44Now then,
08:47Ty Buribo
08:48with a second goal for D.C. United.
08:52He's half the deficit.
08:53Comfortable for Miami.
08:55They get too casual.
08:57With a ball across,
08:58a square ball back from Segovia
09:00that goes the wrong direction.
09:02It's a great little ball there from Peglo.
09:04And the right decision there
09:05from Hopkins
09:06to hit that one low and hard
09:08across the frame.
09:09A lovely little outside
09:10of the right football.
09:11And this is why you hit it
09:12to the far post
09:13because it leaves it on the doorstep
09:15if there's any save,
09:16if there's a deflection.
09:17And who else would you want
09:18in that position
09:19than their new number nine,
09:21Ty Buribo.
09:22Five minutes
09:23for D.C. United
09:24to find the equalizing goal.
09:26All for Inter-Miami
09:28to hold on.
09:28Here's Kayden Clark
09:29on the ball.
09:31Montenu ahead.
09:32Clark.
09:34Give a little flick from Peglo.
09:37Look to Markovic.
09:39Markovic again.
09:42Montenu.
09:44And Falcone able
09:45to answer the call.
09:47And the decision
09:48goes in favor.
09:49He has 40
09:52some odd tickets
09:53for friends and family
09:54and he's found
09:54some big moments
09:55in clutch time
09:56for D.C. United.
09:58As is this man,
09:58Messi,
09:59into Bertrami!
10:00Very good save
10:01by Sean Johnson
10:02and Merrill there to clear.
10:06To Paul,
10:08Messi.
10:12Messi,
10:13Bertrami!
10:14And over the bar!
10:20Clark's ball
10:21into the far post
10:22it goes.
10:23Scrubs picked up
10:25on the far side.
10:27Lovely inviting ball
10:28in headed towards goal!
10:34A tale of two halves.
10:38A tale ultimately decided
10:40by Lionel Messi.
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