Palmeiras staged a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami in front of a lively crowd at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night, with both teams securing spots in the Club World Cup round of 16.
The Brazilian side, known for its rich football history, found the equalizer in the 87th minute through Mauricio after trailing for most of the game. The draw was enough for both clubs to progress, as they entered the match level on four points at the top of Group A.
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Inter Miami seemed on course to win the group after building a 2-0 advantage, thanks to goals from Tadeo Allende in the 16th minute and veteran striker Luis Suarez in the 65th.
However, Palmeiras turned the game around following key second-half substitutions. Paulinho pulled one back in the 80th minute, setting the stage for Mauricio's late equalizer.
Despite plenty of opportunities and the crowd frequently chanting his name, Lionel Messi, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Tuesday, was unable to find the back of the net.