Messi has to save again: An MLS newcomer shocks Marco Reus and champion Galaxy

Messi has to save again An MLS newcomer shocks Marco Reus and champion Galaxy 24.02.2025, 16:54

The winter break is over and things are starting up again in Major League Soccer. Former Dortmund player Marco Reus surprisingly lost his first game with Los Angeles Galaxy against a newcomer to the league. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has to save his Inter Miami once again.

Marco Reus has ruined the start of the MLS season with defending champions Los Angeles Galaxy. The former German international and his team suffered a surprise 0:2 (0:0) defeat against league newcomers San Diego FC. And that was at home: Galaxy had not lost a single home game in the entire previous season.

Danish right winger Anders Dreyer, who came to San Diego from RSC Anderlecht, scored both goals (52nd/90th+3). Reus, who won the first championship title of his long career with Galaxy, was substituted in the 72nd minute. 25,244 spectators saw Galaxy's first home defeat since October 21, 2023.

Messi has to save very late

Meanwhile, world star Lionel Messi prevented a last-minute false start with Inter Miami. In the 2:2 (1:1) draw against New York City FC, the 37-year-old provided the assists for both of his team's goals, the second in the tenth minute of stoppage time. Miami had been playing with a man down for a long time after a red card for Tomás Aviles (23'), but Telasco Segovia scored the late equalizer.

After a dream start with the lead through Aviles (5th), the hosts, who had surprisingly failed in the first round of the playoffs last season, lost control of the game. Mitja Ilenic (26th) and Alonso Martínez (55th) turned the game around after a mistake by former Spanish European champion Jordi Alba.

But Messi led Miami to a draw. "He is the soul of this team, you could see that at the end," said coach Javier Mascherano. Messi's former teammate at FC Barcelona and the Argentine national team praised the world star effusively: "We have to keep him in that spirit, because it's not just about what he does on the pitch, but also what he conveys to his teammates."

Messi had already led Inter Miami at the start of the season in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Sporting Kansas City. In temperatures of minus 17 degrees, he scored the golden goal for a 1-0 victory. "He doesn't just play in attack, he helps in defense, sprints back, runs in midfield. He's great," enthused Mascherano.