Inter Miami lost on penalties to Japanese Vissel Kobe

Inter Miami lost in a friendly match to the Japanese club Vissel Kobe (0:0, pen. 3:4).

The meeting took place at the National Stadium in Tokyo in the presence of 68 thousand spectators. Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi, who missed the previous game due to muscle discomfort, was not included in the starting lineup and appeared on the field in the 60th minute.

The main time of the match passed without any goals scored, after which the teams carried out a series of penalty kicks. The Inter Miami players failed to convert the final three shots, thanks to which the Vissel Kobe players won the penalty shootout. Messi did not take part in the penalty kick series.

Inter Miami completed its Asian tour in preparation for the new MLS season, winning one victory in four matches. In Saudi Arabia, Gerardo Martino's team lost to Al-Hilal (3:4) and Al-Nasr (0:6), after which in Hong Kong they defeated a team of local championship stars (4:1).

On February 16, Inter Miami in Florida will play their final game of the pre-season against Messi's first club, Newell's Old Boys, for whom he played until he was 13 years old. The team will open the new MLS season on February 22 with a home match against Real Salt Lake.