Palmeiras topped Group A and will take on fellow Brazilian side Botafogo in the round of 16, while Inter Miami is set to face Group B winners Paris Saint-Germain — Lionel Messi’s former club.
Palmeiras Rally to Draw 2-2 with Inter Miami, Both Teams Advance to Club World Cup Round of 16
In front of a vibrant crowd at Hard Rock Stadium, Brazilian giants Palmeiras staged a dramatic comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami, securing a spot for both clubs in the Club World Cup round of 16.
Entering the match tied atop Group A with four points each, a draw was all either side needed to advance to the knockout stage. Inter Miami appeared poised to top the group after taking a 2-0 lead, courtesy of a 16th-minute strike from Tadeo Allende and a 65th-minute goal by veteran Luis Suárez.
But Palmeiras refused to back down. Paulinho cut the deficit in the 80th minute, and Mauricio delivered the equalizer just minutes before full time, stunning the Miami crowd and leveling the score in the 87th minute.
Lionel Messi, who turns 39 on Tuesday, had several promising chances but couldn’t find the back of the net, despite the crowd chanting his name throughout the match.
Key Moment:
As Mauricio’s late equalizer slipped past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, Messi was seen shaking his head in frustration, the 2-0 lead evaporating in the final moments.