In a pulsating clash at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, Inter Miami delivered a jaw-dropping performance, led by the football maestro, Lionel Messi. Despite being 4-2 down against FC Dallas in the 80th minute, Miami staged an extraordinary comeback to level the tie, eventually triumphing 5-3 in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Miami’s manager, Gerardo Martino, expressed his elation, saying, “Being 4-2 down in the 80th minute and then coming back, we are very happy with the result.” However, he also emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, asserting, “But the fact that we have gone through shouldn’t let us lose sight of the things that we have to improve.”
The victory marks a significant turning point for Inter Miami, who were previously struggling with 11 winless matches. However, the arrival of the legendary Lionel Messi changed their fortunes, propelling them to an impressive winning streak of four consecutive games.
The action-packed encounter saw Messi take the center stage. The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward showcased his brilliance by opening the scoring just six minutes into the match. With a masterful curling shot from outside the penalty area, he slotted the ball inside the near post, giving Miami an early lead. Nonetheless, FC Dallas mounted a fierce response, surging ahead 3-1 with just over an hour played.
Undeterred, Inter Miami fought back valiantly, and midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi managed to narrow the deficit. However, a moment of misfortune struck Miami as Robert Taylor accidentally scored an own goal, restoring Dallas’ two-goal cushion.
With the game seemingly slipping away, Miami found a glimmer of hope in the 80th minute. Marco Farfan’s unfortunate header into his own net gifted Miami a lifeline. And then, as if channeling his football sorcery, Lionel Messi conjured up a magical free-kick, curling it home with sheer finesse to level the tie just five minutes later. With this feat, Messi’s goal tally soared to seven in just four appearances for the club.
As the match couldn’t be decided in regular time, the tension escalated to a penalty shootout. Once again, Messi took charge, expertly converting his spot-kick. Former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, also displayed composure, calmly dispatching his penalty. Meanwhile, Paxton Pomykal’s miss for FC Dallas proved costly, securing Inter Miami’s place in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals.
With this impressive victory, Inter Miami makes history, becoming the first club to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup. The tournament, which debuted in 2019, features intense competition between teams from the United States and Mexico in a thrilling knockout format.
Inter Miami’s incredible journey, fueled by the magic of Lionel Messi, has left fans in awe and rivals in fear. As they advance to the next stage of the Leagues Cup, the question on everyone’s lips is whether this extraordinary partnership will lead to even greater triumphs in the future.
