Casemiro Kickstarts Inter Miami Home Debut With an Own Goal

The Brazilian midfielder's first match in front of Inter Miami fans quickly turned into one he will want to forget as he scores the first own goal of his career.

After helping Inter Miami beat CF Montréal 1-0 in his debut days earlier, Casemiro was expected to impress again against Columbus Crew. Instead, one poor pass started a dangerous counterattack before he accidentally turned the ball into his own net.

For a famous for protecting his defence, it was a shocking mistake.

The own goal helped Columbus level the game, and Inter Miami eventually threw away two points in a 2-2 draw despite Luis Suárez's brilliant performance and Messi's return from the World Cup.

Casemiro's mistake sparked plenty of reactions online, with fans joking that his debut at home looked more like a gift for the opposition than a welcome party.

But Inter Miami boss Guillermo Hoyos refused to blame his new midfielder.

"Casemiro is one of the best players in the world," Hoyos said after the match. "He brings balance to the team and is a fantastic signing. He will bring us a lot of success."

The own goal was Casemiro's first at club level since playing for São Paulo in 2011, ending a remarkable run that lasted 15 years.

One mistake does not erase everything Casemiro has achieved, but football can be ruthless. While Messi's comeback was supposed to dominate the headlines, it was Casemiro's unfortunate moment that many fans were talking about after the final whistle.

The pressure is now on the Brazilian to remind everyone why Inter Miami worked so hard to bring him to Florida.