Inter Miami are through to the last eight of the Leagues Cup, and Lionel Messi is the main reason why. Messi scored two more goals for his new club in a crazy 4-4 draw with FC Dallas and converted a penalty kick in the shootout with the visitors advancing, 5-3 from the spot. The tense battle ended 4-4 in regulation as Inter rallied twice to draw level.
The match saw Messi score just six minutes in for the 1-0 lead, but his side would fall behind 3-1 and then 4-2, needing a late own goal and another free kick golazo from the World Cup winner to force penalty kicks. Messi's second goal saw him go upper 90 from the corner of the box with an incredibly placed ball.
U.S. men's national team talent Paxton Pomykal skied his penalty to give Tata Martino's team the advantage, and they would not disappoint, advancing to the quarterfinals by converting all five of their penalties. FC Dallas were the first team to push Inter Miami since Messi signed for the club but Tata Martino's adjustments again proved to be important during the match.
Making his first start for the club, Diego Gomez struggled in midfield with FC Dallas picking the ball off of him and Sergio Busquets with ease but the introduction of 18-year-old homegrown Benjamin Cremaschi changed the game. Scoring a goal on his first touch of the game and then sealing the penalty shootout with the fifth kick, Cremaschi's performance goes to show that while Messi, Busquets, and Jordi Alba will be critical to Miami's performances this season, it's the young players who will determine how far this team can go in supporting roles.
Defensive improvement will be needed as Kamal Miller and Drake Callender had nights to forget but there's plenty of margin for error when a team can score four goals in a match. With more talented players like Facundo Farias and Tomas Aviles on the way, this squad is only getting better as next up in Leagues Cup they'll face the winner of Charlotte FC vs. the Houston Dynamo. Due to hosting duties being based on a team's performance in the season prior, Inter Miami will be taking the next match to DRV PNK Stadium next weekend.
Homegrown Benjamin Cremaschi seals it with the final penalty take after also scoring a goal during regulation. An excellent match for the 18-year-old as the Herons march on.
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X✅✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X✅
Inter Miami: ✅✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X
Inter Miami: ✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅X
Inter Miami: ✅✅
FC Dallas: ✅
Inter Miami: ✅
FC Dallas: ✅
Inter Miami:✅
FC Dallas:
After a wild wild regulation that ended 4-4 including two own goals, there will now be a penalty shootout. Since there's no extra time in Leagues Cup, we're going right to a shootout as there will still be twists and turns before this one is out.
This has been one of the wildest ends that I've seen in any soccer match as FC Dallas were in a comfortable spot in the match and that has evaporated over the last few minutes. Five minutes of stoppage time will be coming and that's plenty of time for a winning goal.
LIONEL MESSI IS UNSTOPPABLE! It's his second free kick goal of Leagues Cup and now brings Inter Miami level in the match. There's still time for a winner but at the moment we're heading to a penalty shootout.
When Messi got a free kick from outside the box, there was only one thing that was happening but it was expected for a Miami player to get on the end of it and not Marco Farfan for the second own goal of the game. 10 minutes remain in the match and anything could happen.
More goals than you can count as now Robert Taylor has scored an own goal to restore Dallas' two goal lead. There has now been three goals in five minutes as the game has spiraled in the second half.
Well talk about an instant impact. Benjamin Cremaschi's first touch of the game ends up int he back of the net after an assist from Jord Alba. That's a massive goal to help push Miami back into the match.
Drake Callender has been having an excellent tournament to date but that wasn't great on allowing Velesco to score there. Gomez will be withdrawn form the match as it's now or never for Inter Miami to get back into the match with only 25 minutes remaining.
That could've ended it as Miller was in a 1v1 with Jesus Ferrerira and the Miami defender won that battle. That's the kind of stop that can be a momentum-shifting moment in the match if Miami are able to capitalize.
The ball is nicked from Sergio Busquets as Velasco has shadowed him all game. It's close to a third goal for Dallas and time is running out for the midfield to get things together in the match.
It's the first time that Miami has trailed at the half since adding Messi into the mix and Tata Martino will need to make adjustments. His midfield isn't able to control the game leaving the defense out to dry and FC Dallas has taken advantage of it to hit Miami on the counter. It's still more than a winnable match for the Herons but adjustments will need to come before they're behind by multiple goals.
Miami's entire defense was put on skates as Dallas went on the counter and Bernard Kamungo was able to go around the defense to put Dallas ahead with only a few minutes to go until the half.
There's the equalizer as Quingnon was able to make one of Dallas' chances count following a great pass from Farfan. Dallas has been pushing during the half and they now have something to show for it.
After Robert Taylor's shot was saved by Paes, Messi's follow up was then cleared off the line by FC Dallas. Miami are growing back into control of the game prior to the half.
While Miami are in the lead, FC Dallas has been able to consistently put them under pressure with a consistent attacking approach. Orlando City and Atlanta United took a step back after Miami's opening goals but that hasn't been the case in this match. It's now time for a hydration break 25 mintues in and Tata Martino will likely adjust their defense slightly.
Velasco is making things happen as his free kick tested Callender in net. Miami may have the lead but FC Dallas has had their chances early. They won't matter if Miami can get a second quickly though.
It's a reunion as Jordi Alba plays Lionel Messi into space and he won't miss. Setup by Diego Gomez, the duo were able to bring the Barcelona connection to Frisco. It was ruled to be off due to Josef Martinez being in an offside position but since he didn't impact the play, the goal was given.
Miami are under pressure as Jesus Ferreira has the ball in the back of the net after being set up by Velasco but the flag is raised. Immediately, Inter Miami are going the other way to try and answer back.
FC Dallas are on the ball to start but there are plenty of Argentina jerseys in the crowd. Ferreira has a chance out of the gate but it went just wide.
Alan Velasco and Jesus Ferreira will have the tough task of trying to keep up with Messi and Robert Taylor.
Starters: Paes, Jesus, Tafari, Ibeagha, Farfan, Lleget, Quignon, Velasco, Kamungo, Ferreira, Obrian
It's a full debut for Jordi Alba and Diego Gomez as Miami's first-choice roster is beginning to take shape.
Starters: Callender, Alba, Miller, Kryvtsov, Yedlin, Gomez, Busquets, Arroyo, Taylor, Martinez, Messi
