—- Lionel Messi scored his 50th goal for Inter Miami as they came from behind to beat Porto for their first win at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Porto took the lead after just eight minutes when Samu Aghehowa squeezed a penalty under the arm of goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.

Martin Anselmi’s side could have been further clear by half-time but Francesco Moura saw a shot cleared off the line and Alan Varela struck the post.

Telasco Segovia sparked the Inter Miami comeback when powering Marcelo Weigandt’s cut-back into the top corner.

Messi then sealed the MLS franchise’s maiden victory in the competition with a trademark free-kick over the wall and out of reach for a sprawling Claudio Ramos.

The 37-year-old fired wide from a set-piece further out just a few moments prior but, when presented with another opportunity centrally and from the edge of the D, he struck his 68th goal from a direct free-kick.

Messi’s sixth goal in the competition means he is joint-second on the Club World Cup all-time goalscorers list – level with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema – and just one shy of leader Cristiano Ronaldo (7).

Storm delay

Brazil’s Palmeiras scored twice in the space of 10 second-half minutes to beat Al Ahly of Egypt 2-0 in their Group A Club World Cup clash which was halted for 50 minutes because of fears over stormy weather at the MetLife Stadium.

Ahly’s Palestine international striker Wessam Abou Ali headed into his own net trying to defend a free kick whipped in by Anibal Moreno, getting into a mix-up with his defenders to hand Palmeiras a 49th minute lead.

The first goal in the group was followed 10 minutes later by a swift counter-attack from the Brazilian club, expertly finished by Jose Manuel Lopez, who had come on at halftime.

Immediately after the second goal, English referee Anthony Taylor took the two teams off the field while spectators were told by the public address announcer to leave their seats and seek shelter under the stadium concourse because of a “severe weather threat”.

The precaution came despite no obvious signs of any storm, and after 30 minutes, spectators were told they could return to their seats. The game eventually restarted after a 50-minute delay, with Palmeiras keeping up their second-half dominance.

A first red card of the tournament was brandished by Taylor after Raphael Vega’s dangerous tackle on Ahmed Zizo but the referee changed his mind after reviewing the action on the pitchside VAR screen. It was downgraded to a yellow card and Vega was replaced at halftime by coach Abel Ferreira.

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