It had spectacle. It had a sold out crowd.<\/p>\n
It had the atmosphere that Inter Miami had envisioned in a home field advantage.<\/p>\n
But what the debut of Nu Stadium did not have on Saturday night was a victory by the home side.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because, self-admittedly after the game, Inter Miami\u2019s team itself did not match the intensity of its new home on the field enough during a disappointing 2-2 draw against Austin.<\/p>\n
The reigning MLS Cup champions continue to struggle to find the formula that led them to said feat consistently in 2026.<\/p>\n
They had customary moments of brilliance from their captain and megastar, Lionel Messi, who fittingly scored the team\u2019s first goal in their new home in the 10th minute.<\/p>\n
But that came only after the visitors scored the first ever goal in the stadium\u2019s history when Guilherme Biro struck the first blow in the game\u2019s sixth minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnytime you give up an early goal it\u2019s not ideal, especially at home,\u201d Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayna St. Clair said. \u201cWhen you talk about the outside factors of opening a new stadium, you definitely want the first goal to be your own. But we were able to fight back and take a positive turn in our direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
That reversal of fortune came only after 39-year-old legend-turned-reserve Luis Suarez rescued the team from defeat with a goal off a corner kick to level the score at 2 in the 81st minute. Suarez nearly secured Miami three points after all with what seemed like a goal right at the outset of stoppage time, but was ruled offside.<\/p>\n
But for a team that was looking for a fresh start after playing its first five league games on the road, it was not enough.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami CF forward Luis Su\u00e1rez (9) reacts after scoring against Austin FC in the second half of their MLS match at Nu Stadium in Miami Freedom Park on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Miami, Florida. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
\u201cThe first half we did not play well,\u201d Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have intensity and we kind of gave away the first goal. Against these types of rivals, when you do that, you complicate yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reason Inter Miami can point to that nice new sign on the wall high above the field at Nu Stadium that commemorates their league title last year is because it learned to put together complete performances.<\/p>\n
They were able to match their elite scoring threats with stingy defense.<\/p>\n
Two of the biggest architects of that approach – Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – are gone. And so far, a revamped roster hasn\u2019t been able to put together a similar performance yet for an entire match.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why the club has two draws already in league play and four overall if you count the two against Nashville that led to its deflating early dismissal from the Concacaf Champions Cup.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami allowed an upset-minded opponent to gain a foothold early, which is something the club realizes it can\u2019t continue to do against a league full of opposition hungry to dethrone them this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went a while there without playing like ourselves. We have to realize that all the other teams really want to beat us, being that we\u2019re the defending league champions,\u201d Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcon said. \u201cTeams come here trying to take our heads off. We didn\u2019t take that seriously in the first half, and we paid for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Falcon returned from injury and played in his first game since March 11 when he suffered a left knee injury against Nashville.<\/p>\n
Austin FC forward Christian Ram\u00edrez (21) and Inter Miami CF defender Maximiliano Falc\u00f3n (37) head the ball in the first half of their MLS match at Nu Stadium in Miami Freedom Park on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Miami, Florida. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
He nearly tied the score twice on headers in the final moments as Miami completely flipped the script in the second half and finished with a 27-9 advantage in goal attempts.<\/p>\n
This after Miami made multiple adjustments including dropping a third defender to the back and adding scoring punch with Suarez up front.<\/p>\n
The season is still extremely young having played only six matches. Inter Miami finds itself in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference after Saturday\u2019s games and only two points back of first-place Nashville.<\/p>\n
But the dream of a Champions Cup title is gone thanks to this early inconsistency. And if Miami doesn\u2019t find itself eventually, so could the dream of a repeat MLS title.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to have better focus and a better attitude. We just didn\u2019t have that,\u201d Falcon said. \u201cTeams will play 110 percent against us, and you have to respond the same way. We did that more in the second half, but we need to do it for the whole match.\u201d<\/p>\n