Inter Miami needed a stoppage-time goal to seal its first win of the 2026 preseason. The Herons defeated Atlético Nacional 2-1 at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Peru.
Inter Miami Seals Dramatic Win Over Atlético Nacional
MLS Cup champion Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 loss in its first preseason game of 2026 against Alianza Lima in Peru. The squad was eager to bounce back with just one more game left ahead of the MLS season but only managed to edge out a win.
Javier Mascherano’s side faced Atlético Nacional with a jam-packed crowd in place to see Lionel Messi and Co. in action. The home side took the lead in the 25th minute, with Juan Manuel Rengifo finding the back of the net.
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and new Inter Miami signing Dayne St. Clair could not do much to keep the ball out as the defenders failed to clear the loose ball inside the penalty area. Inter Miami failed to gain momentum despite having Messi and Luis Suarez starting and struggled to create chances in the first half.
They were down 1-0 at halftime, and Mascherano opted not to make any changes at the break. He wanted the players to treat the match as a normal game rather than a friendly and find a way back.
Suarez scored nine minutes after the restart to pull the Florida-based side level, and Inter Miami went on to dominate the game. The striker was taken off for new signing Germán Berterame at the hour mark, and the two shared 15 minutes on the pitch with Messi to build chemistry.
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The MLS side kept pushing for a second goal but failed to capitalize while Messi was on the pitch. They were held in check by Atlético Nacional, which was determined to get a result in front of its fans.
The match appeared set to finish in a 1-1 draw, but an own goal by Elkin Rivero in stoppage time gave Mascherano’s side the win. The defensive midfielder saw a shot from Santiago Morales deflect off him and drift into his own net just a minute into injury time.
The win comes just days before Inter Miami faces Barcelona SC in its final friendly ahead of the MLS 2026 season. The two sides clash Saturday, Feb. 7.
The Lionel Messi-led side opens its MLS campaign on the road Feb. 21 against LAFC.
