On Monday night in Miami Gardens, Florida, Palmeiras and Inter Miami ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Paulinho struck in the 80th minute, and Mauricio equalized in the 87th, securing Palmeiras the top position in Group A.
Luis Suarez, showcasing a stellar performance that’s a highlight of his lengthy career, had initially put Miami ahead. His goal was a significant contribution to the game, yet it was overshadowed by the late Brazilian surge.
Tadeo Allende also made his mark, scoring a goal that propelled Miami into the next round of the FIFA Club World Cup, finishing in second place.
Palmeiras (1-0-2, 5 points) edged out Miami (1-0-2, 5 points) on goal difference and is set to face Botafogo in Philadelphia on Saturday.
This weekend also sees Lionel Messi and Miami taking on his former team, Paris Saint-Germain, in Atlanta.
Paulinho managed to reduce Palmeiras’ deficit after connecting with Alan’s clever diagonal pass, finding the lower corner just before being challenged by Benjamin Cremache.
A mere seven minutes later, Mauricio made a powerful impression by scoring with his first touch following a deflection off Marcelo Weigant’s header.
Suarez, now 38, displayed youthful vigor as he extended Miami’s lead in the 65th minute.
Receiving a pass from the left, he skillfully maneuvered around Lucas Evangelista before setting up a cutback for defender Bruno Fuchs.
Allende netted the first goal for Miami in the 16th minute with one of the game’s most straightforward plays.
Federico Redondo cleared the ball from his own penalty area, and Suarez retreated to retrieve it from the center circle.
In one smooth motion, Suarez assisted Allende, who made a run across midfield into open space. As Palmeiras’ defender Murillo struggled with a hamstring issue, Allende took his time to line up a precise, low strike past Welton.
