Lionel Messi helped set up both goals and Inter Miami survived extended second-half pressure from Real Salt Lake to earn a 2-0 victory in Major League Soccer's season opener on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Robert Taylor scored late in the first half and Diego Gomez added another in the second for Miami, which was dominant before the break but inferior after it and probably fortunate to still be in the lead when Gomez added on.
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Luis Suarez had the primary assist on Gomez's insurance tally in his MLS debut after he became the third of Messi's former Barcelona teammates to join him on Miami's roster this offseason.