'We had the game in our hands' - Mascherano rues letting lead slip against Palmeiras
Inter Miami were 2-0 up against Palmeiras on Monday, but conceded two late goals to draw, and they finished second in Group A.
Javier Mascherano was disappointed after Inter Miami blew their lead against Palmeiras, but said his team would try to "prove our worth" in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Miami were on course to finish top of Group A as they held a two-goal lead over Palmeiras in their final group game on Monday, but the Brazilian team mounted a late comeback to draw 2-2 at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tadeo Allande gave Miami the lead 16 minutes in before Luis Suarez doubled their advantage five minutes after the hour mark.
However, Palmeiras, who had 22 shots on goal overall, eventually managed to find a way through thanks to two substitutes, with Paulinho pulling one back in the 80th minute and Mauricio salvaging a point seven minutes later.
Miami are the first MLS team to avoid defeat against an opponent from CONMEBOL since D.C. United drew with Universidad Catolica of Chile in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2005.
As such, both teams finished Group A on five points, though Palmeiras sit top due to having a superior goal difference to Miami, and they will meet Botafogo in the round of 16. Miami will face UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Lionel Messi's teams have now progressed in all 33 group stages they have appeared in over his career (club and country), and Mascherano is already turning his attention to the next challenge.
"We are disappointed because we had the game in our hands. We couldn't close the game," Mascherano told FIFA.
"But it was going to be difficult because [we were facing] a team that play very well with a lot of quality and is one of the best teams in South America. So now we are thinking about the next step.
"We know that we are going to face maybe the best team in Europe [PSG]. It will be difficult, but we will try to do our best. We are going to try to show our quality and to try to prove our worth."
Messi will now face a former team for the first time when Miami face PSG on Sunday, after the Argentinian spent two seasons at the club before joining the Herons.
Messi admitted earlier this year that he had not enjoyed his time in Paris, and Mascherano believes Miami can benefit from him playing an emotional game when the sides clash.
"No, it's clear that for us, it's better if he plays angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort," Mascherano told SportsCenter. "But well, I think that's already in the past; it's a different story now.
"Also, since it's here in the United States, I don't think the atmosphere will be the same. What we will try to do is play a great game because, to have any chance, we need to have a perfect match, and we will go for it."
Elsewhere in Group A, Porto and Al Ahly played out a 4-4 draw to close their group campaign, though a win for either side would not have been enough due to Miami and Palmeiras' draw.
Al Ahly had taken a 2-1 lead into half-time, though three goals in three minutes early in the second half levelled the score, with Pepe eventually scoring an 89th-minute equaliser at MetLife Stadium to earn Porto a point that saw them finish third in the group.
