Lionel Messi marked the opening of Inter Miami's gleaming new stadium with a goal, but the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Austin FC. The club's 26,000-capacity Nu Stadium made its debut on Saturday, capping off a more-than-a-decade-long journey to secure a permanent home, with co-owner David Beckham among the star-studded crowd.

Beckham said shortly before kickoff, "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. 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." Despite the celebratory pre-game ribbon-cutting ceremony, Austin FC refused to follow the script, stunning the home crowd with an early goal.

Messi equalized four minutes later with a rare headed goal from Ian Fray's cross. Inter Miami dominated possession thereafter, creating chances, but Austin's dogged defence and counter-attacking speed saw them retake the lead in the 53rd minute after Messi was dispossessed. Coach Javier Mascherano brought on veteran striker Luis Suarez, who scored eight minutes later from close range after a Messi corner.

Suarez thought he had scored a dramatic winner late on, but it was ruled out for offside. The match ended 2-2, highlighting a challenging contest on the day of the stadium's grand opening, despite the festive atmosphere and high-profile attendance.

Source: www.aljazeera.com