Messi on target as Miami opens new stadium with draw against Austin

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi, right, takes a shot on the goal as Austin FC defender Oleksandr Svatok (5) during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Miami. (AP)

MIAMI, April 5 (AP): Lionel Messi scored on the long-awaited opening night in his new home stadium. And Luis Suarez found a way to tie things up late in the second half.

It was good enough to salvage a point for Inter Miami.

Messi scored on a header in the 10th minute, Suarez hammered home a volley in the 82nd minute, and Inter Miami escaped with a 2-2 tie against Austin FC in the defending MLS champions' first match at their still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport on Saturday night.

Inter Miami (3-1-2) is now unbeaten in its last five MLS matches, and Austin (1-2-3) is now winless in its last four contests.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber was at the match, lauding the work David Beckham, who picked Miami 13 years ago, did to get to this day. Inter Miami is in its seventh MLS season, its third with Messi, but has played home matches in Fort Lauderdale until now.

Garber touted the stadium opening as the latest sign of growth for MLS.

"I think our best days are still ahead," Garber said. "David shone a light on our league, and Leo’s taking that torch, and he’s showing it around. And we’re getting calls from players around the world.”

The Herons never led; Austin took a 1-0 lead on Guilherme Biro's goal - the first ever at Nu Stadium - in the sixth minute, and the visitors went up 2-1 when speedy reserve Jayden Nelson scored in the 53rd minute.

Messi and Suarez both scored tying goals, and Inter Miami missed some chances to win in the final minutes. Maybe the best of the lot: Mateo Silvetti's chance in the 87th minute, when he accepted a cross from the right wing and tried to one-time the ball but sent it sailing high.