Inter Miami secured a dramatic Leagues Cup victory against Club Necaxa, winning 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The match was filled with twists and turns, including an early injury to Lionel Messi, two red cards, and a late equalizer from Jordi Alba.
The game started poorly for Inter Miami when Lionel Messi went down with an apparent leg injury in the 11th minute after a collision with Necaxa defender Alexis Pena. He was replaced by Federico Redondo. Despite the setback, Inter Miami responded quickly, with Telasco Segovia scoring a beautiful goal in the 12th minute, assisted by Rodrigo De Paul. However, their lead was short-lived, as Maxi Falcón received a straight red card in the 17th minute for a last-man foul, putting Miami at a disadvantage. Necaxa capitalized on their man advantage, with Tomás Badaloni equalizing in the 33rd minute.
The second half was just as chaotic. In the 61st minute, Necaxa's Cristian Calderón was sent off after picking up his second yellow card, leveling the playing field. Ricardo Monreal then put Necaxa ahead in the 81st minute, seemingly securing the win for the Mexican side. However, Inter Miami showed resilience, with Jordi Alba heading home a precise free kick from De Paul in the second minute of stoppage time to tie the game 2-2 and force a penalty shootout.
In the penalty shootout, Inter Miami was perfect, with De Paul, Benjamin Cremaschi, Alba, Federico Redondo, and Luis Suárez all converting their spot-kicks. Goalkeeper Ríos Novo made a crucial save, stopping Badaloni's effort, and Suárez sealed the victory with an emphatic penalty off the crossbar.
The win moves Inter Miami up to second in the MLS standings in the Leagues Cup. They will feel good about their Leagues Cup hopes heading into their final match against Pumas UNAM. However, the injury to Lionel Messi casts a shadow over the victory, and the team awaits updates on his condition.
Despite the win, the team will be concerned about Messi's injury. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's presence has been transformative for Inter Miami, and his absence would be a significant blow. The team had struggled without Messi since he joined in the summer of 2023.
