Messi crashes out in his Club World Cup debut as Inter Miami draws

Spectacular performances by goalkeepers Oscar Ustari , who saved a penalty, and Mohamed El Shenawy , who performed two miracles in added time, were the main focus of the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday between Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly , who drew 0-0 to open Group A at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. More than 60,000 fans gathered in Miami dreaming of Leo Messi .

The Argentine came close to scoring on several occasions, but the final show belonged to both goalkeepers. Ustari made at least four worthy saves in the first half, including a penalty save from Trezeguet , and Inter Miami grew in the second half to the rhythm of Messi, who came close to scoring a great goal from a free kick and another in added time , when El Shenawy sent his shot against the crossbar.

The Egyptian goalkeeper also made another key save from the ensuing corner kick after a header from Maximiliano Falcón , leaving the 60,000 fans at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium unable to celebrate . If it wasn't a surprise to see thousands of pink shirts with Messi's number 10 on them , it was the number of Egyptian fans who turned up at Hard Rock Stadium in their bright red shirts.

Messi received a standing ovation when the PA system announced his name in coach Javier Mascherano's starting lineup , but from that moment on, Al Ahly began to make a huge push. It showed on the pitch. José Riveiro 's men competed with clear ideas, with a fast, vertical game that repeatedly opened up gaps in Inter Miami's defense.

Mascherano was struggling on the bench due to his team's technical errors and it was thanks to Ustari that the score remained 0-0 at half-time . The veteran Argentine goalkeeper saved two one-on-ones, against Abou Ali and Eman Ashour , in the first ten minutes, prevented a goal again with a distinguished intervention after a header from Achraf Dari and, a few minutes before the break, saved a penalty taken by Trezeguet after a foul by Telasco Segovia on Zizo .

Inter Miami struggled to withstand the Egyptian side's onslaught and their physical prowess. Riveiro's team imposed their presence on the pitch, as demonstrated by Dari himself with a tremendous kick from a shared ball with Messi. The Argentine ended up on the ground after a dangerous blow to his knee , but was ultimately able to continue without further consequences.

Mascherano's team barely created any danger in the first half, but the saved penalty did deal a psychological blow to Al Ahly. And it gradually showed. Inter Miami grew in the first half and started the second much better . They did so at the pace of Messi, who tried his luck in the 56th minute with a shot from outside the area, saved by Al Shenawy, who gave the illusion of a goal to half the stadium with a direct free kick that grazed the post and ended up bouncing off the back of the net.

With Telasco Segovia shaking the opposing defense down his flank and Messi scaring El Shenawy with several attempts at an Olympic goal from corners, Ustari enjoyed a calmer second half and Inter Miami effectively contained Al Ahly. The 45-time Egyptian champions suffered and had to thank El Shenawy in a spectacular finish . The Egyptian goalkeeper made a spectacular one-handed save against Fafa Picault 's header after another great run from Messi down the left, and in added time he made two more decisive interventions to deny Messi and Maximiliano Falcón.