Home / Football / MLS News Inter Miami vs Austin: Watch Lionel Messi score first goal at Nu Stadium The Nu Stadium opened with Inter Miami vs Austin Written by Ben Miller Last Update: April 5, 2026 04:56:50 pm BST 6 min read Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez rescued Inter Miami from a losing start on opening night at their Nu Stadium as head coach Javier Mascherano said his teams first-half performance in a 2-2 draw with Austin had left him with a bitter and sad feeling. Myrto Uzuni hit a post from a free-kick for the visitors inside the first three minutes before Guilherme Biro headed in a Facundo Torres corner to become the first-ever scorer at Miamis 26,700-capacity stadium and give Austin, who had won one of their first five matches of the MLS season, a surprise lead.Eight-time Ballon dOr winner Messi provided a swift tonic by nodding in Ian Frays cross in the 10th minute but Jayden Nelsons neat finish following a counter-attack restored Austins lead eight minutes after the break, with Suarez prodding in from close range to earn Miami a point eight minutes from time.We gave away the first half, which makes things complicated in this type of game against these types of opponents, said Mascherano after overseeing a fourth draw in five matches in all competitions.Football isnt about pressing a button and turning it off whenever we want it doesnt work like that. We cant waste the first half like we did today.Table of Contents1 Analysis: How Austin spoiled Inter Miamis party2 German Berterame: Miami have complete confidence3 Nu Stadium: Mascherano thanks Miami staff4 Inter Miami v Austin statsAnalysis: How Austin spoiled Inter Miamis partyAustin coach Nico Estevez had said his team would attack and they almost scored a second goal earlier when Torres shot against a post from inside the box with half-time approaching.Miami had 19 of the 25 attempts at goal between the teams but only three of the seven on target, although Suarez thought he had scored with seconds of regular time remaining when the Uruguay all-time top scorer headed in the rebound after Messi sent a free-kick against a post.Clearly, we didnt have any intensity, Mascherano said of the first half, describing Miami as improved after the break.What I see is that many times were not identifying transitions and when we need to step back in the transitions, and we start jumping from one thing to another, which is clearly the reason for the second goal [we conceded].We work on it, but thats what football is all about otherwise, all the matches would finish 0-0, meaning we are doing everything right.Football is dynamic; the players play at 180 degrees of speed, they make split-second decisions and many times a player feels that the ball is there and that he can win it, and takes a step or two forward when maybe he should take two steps back.Mascherano defended Miamis high defensive line but called his players response to transitions an area for improvement.This year we are pressing higher and I can assure you that hasnt created any problems for us, added the former Argentina midfielder.We shouldnt focus solely on the negatives; there are positive things within the team. German Berterame: Miami have complete confidenceInter Miami spent $15 million (around �11.4m) on German Berterame from Mexican side Monterrey in January but the Mexico striker is yet to rediscover the prolific form he showed for his previous club.Berterame has not scored in any of Miamis eight matches in all competitions this season and has been used as a substitute for their last three league games, having been ever-present for their first three.Hes very calm and working hard, always giving his all for the team, said Mascherano. Hes a team player.Beyond the fact that he has a very good track record, he has arrived with a lot of humility to earn a place here.Part of my job as a coach is to try to find variations so that he feels as comfortable as possible. Its not just his issue, its my issue and the teams issue in general.But we have complete confidence in him. We havent brought in a player for five or six games weve brought him in for three years.Berterame played for 32 minutes against Austin, providing an excellent header for Suarezs goal in his first direct goal involvement for Miami.Everything needs an adjustment period and German is a boy who has been playing in a different system, said Mascherano.I have no doubt that sooner or later his opportunity will come and he will be very successful here. Nu Stadium: Mascherano thanks Miami staffMiami are two points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville despite playing their preceding matches of the campaign away while they waited to move into their new home.The stadium was packed, reflected Mascherano. It was incredible.The work done by all the club employees during this time has been incredible, so I want to congratulate them because they have been working day and night so that we could play in the conditions we played in for this game.Inter Miami v Austin statsAustin have not lost any of their three meetings with Miami, previously winning 5-1 at home in 2022 and drawing 1-1 in Miami in 2023Messi has 83 goals and 53 assists in 94 appearances in all competitions for Miami and faced Austin for the first time in his careerCharlottes Wilfried Zaha (5) is the only player in the 2026 MLS to have received more yellow cards than Miamis Telasco Segovia (3)Miami have the highest pass completion (89.3%) in this seasons competition, immediately ahead of San Diego (88.4%)The Herons are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions (W3 D4) since their opening 3-0 defeat at LAFCAustin are the only side this season to have kept a clean sheet this season against Western Conference leaders LAFC, who beat Orlando City 6-0 at home on SaturdayThey have conceded at least twice in four of their first six league games, although they kept clean sheets in the other twoDefender Jon Bell had been their only player to have scored across more than four hours of play between their win at home to DC United on March 1 and their trip to MiamiPortland (13 yellow cards, two reds) and Chicago (13 cautions, one dismissal) are the only two teams with a worse disciplinary record than Austin (12 bookings, one sending-off)Only the LA Galaxys Marco Reus (19) and San Joses Niko Tsakiris (24) have played more key passes in this seasons MLS than Torres (16) Topics: Austin FC Inter Miami CF Javier Mascherano Lionel Messi Luis Suarez MLS Follow us: Ben Miller Reporter Ben has more than 10 years' experience in sports journalism, covering two EURO tournaments, European club competitions, the Premier League, EFL and WSL and a variety of other major sporting events. 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