Inter Miami secured a dramatic Leagues Cup victory over Necaxa, winning 5-4 on penalty kicks after battling back from a deficit, all while navigating an early exit from star Lionel Messi due to injury.
Early Shock: Messi Exits with Injury
The match took a worrying turn for Inter Miami just eight minutes in when Lionel Messi went down with a hamstring injury. He appeared to pull his right upper thigh after a challenge from two defenders.
Messi walked slowly off the field, eventually sitting down before being subbed out in the 11th minute. Coach Javier Mascherano later indicated that Messi felt a pull rather than intense pain and would undergo examinations on Sunday to assess the severity.
A Rollercoaster of Red Cards and Goals
The drama didn’t stop with Messi’s departure. Inter Miami was reduced to ten men early when Maxi Falcón received a red card. Despite being a man down, Telasco Segovia put Miami ahead 1-0, assisted by newcomer Rodrigo De Paul.
Necaxa responded, with Tomás Badaloni leveling the score in the 33rd minute. The playing field evened out in the 60th minute when Necaxa’s Cristian Calderón was sent off with a second yellow card, leaving both teams with ten players.
Ricardo Monreal then gave the Mexican club a late lead in the 81st minute, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
Alba’s Late Heroics and Penalty Showdown
With time ticking away, Jordi Alba delivered a crucial equalizer, heading home a free kick from Rodrigo De Paul in the second minute of stoppage time. This incredible late goal forced the match into a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Inter Miami showed remarkable composure, converting all five of their kicks. Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made a vital save in the third round, denying Tomás Badaloni. Luis Suárez then stepped up to dispatch the winning penalty into the top left corner, securing a 5-4 victory for Miami.
Leagues Cup Ambitions
This hard-fought win puts Inter Miami in a strong position within the Leagues Cup standings. They now sit atop the MLS table with five points, having won their first two matches in the tournament.
The Leagues Cup features teams from both MLS and Liga MX. Only the top four teams from each league’s table, after three matches, will advance to the knockout rounds. Miami’s performance will be crucial as other matches unfold over the weekend.
- Inter Miami defeated Necaxa 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.
- Lionel Messi exited the game early with a hamstring injury.
- Jordi Alba scored a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time to force penalties.
- Both teams played with 10 men for significant portions of the match due to red cards.
- Luis Suárez converted the winning penalty kick for Inter Miami.
The team demonstrated incredible resilience to overcome losing their captain and a numerical disadvantage, showcasing their depth and fighting spirit.
