Inter Miami CF kicked off the South American portion of its 2025 preseason tour with a penalty shootout win against Universitario after the game ended 0-0 in front of a sold out crowd of 80,000 fans at the Estadio Monumental “U” in Lima, Peru.
Manager Javier Mascherano led the team in just his second game as head coach, starting Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez on the attack to indicate a serious approach to the clash.
The Argentine manager debuted new signing Tadeo Allende, giving his star player a 70-plus-minute run before bringing on Robert Taylor in his place.
The two sides fought hard during regular time, with the Herons recording 11 shots and two on goal while enjoying 60 percent possession, but simply couldn’t find the back of the net.
With a scoreless draw at the final whistle, the two sides went to the penalty spot to decide the game.
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Like the preseason match against Club America in Las Vegas, the draw signaled for automatic penalties without extra time.
While Universitario’s Jairo Vélez missed his team’s third attempt, Inter Miami nailed all four of its first penalty kicks to earn the lead before Yannick Bright stepped up to strike the final try and seal victory over the Peruvian side.
Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets didn’t take a penalty after being substituted out before the final whistle, but celebrated the victory with the team afterwards.
Miami now boasts a preseason record of two victories, winning both matches on penalties under new manager Mascherano.
The team will now travel to Panama on to face Sporting San Miguelito at Estadio Rommel Fernández on Feb. 2 before concluding the South and Central American portion of the preseason with a game against Olimpia at Olímpico Metropolitano in Honduras.