Lionel Messi's return was not enough to prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated in the Leagues Cup. On Wednesday night (12), the team lost 3-2 to Club León, at the Nu Stadium, in Miami, and ended its participation in the competition with just three points.
Messi returns after his father's death, but Inter Miami loses and falls in the Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi's return was not enough to prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated in the Leagues Cup. On Wednesday night (12), the team lost 3-2 to Club León, at the Nu Stadium, in Miami, and ended its participation in the competition with...
Therefore, despite the confrontation having advanced into the early hours of Thursday European time, the entire game took place on Wednesday night in Brazil. The duel was scheduled for 7:30 pm local time in Miami.
- Inter Miami dominated much of the first half and opened the scoring in the 42nd minute.
- Ian Fray advanced down the right and found Dániel Pintér, who finished from the left to put the home side ahead before the break.
Editorial reading aid based only on information contained in this story and its identified source.
The match started at 8:30 pm, Brasília time. Therefore, despite the confrontation having advanced into the early hours of Thursday European time, the entire game took place on Wednesday night in Brazil. The duel was scheduled for 7:30 pm local time in Miami.
Inter Miami dominated much of the first half and opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. Ian Fray advanced down the right and found Dániel Pintér, who finished from the left to put the home side ahead before the break.
León's reaction came quickly after returning from the changing rooms. Daniel Arcila equalized in the 50th minute, after a pass from Diber Cambindo. Three minutes later, Yannick Bright took advantage of an assist from Rodrigo De Paul and put Inter Miami back ahead.
The advantage, however, was short-lived. Juan Domínguez left everything the same again in the 61st minute. In the final stretch, Cambindo hit the post before serving Arcila again, who scored his second goal of the match and secured the 3-2 victory.
With the result, Club León finished the first phase with a perfect campaign: three wins in three games and nine points. The Mexican team secured qualification to the quarterfinals, while Inter Miami ended its participation with one victory and two defeats.
Messi returns to play after his father's death The match also marked Lionel Messi's return to the pitch a few days after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68. The Argentine had been left out of the 2-1 defeat to Monterrey on Saturday (8), also in the Leagues Cup. Jorge died on August 7, in Rosario, after facing a prolonged illness.
Messi started the clash with León on the bench and came on at half-time in place of Pintér. The number 10 was received with loud applause from the fans at Nu Stadium and participated in Inter Miami's pressure in search of a draw in the final minutes, but the team was unable to avoid defeat.
The striker had returned to Florida on Tuesday, after traveling to Argentina to attend his father's funeral. This Wednesday, before the match, Messi also published a tribute to Jorge and spoke about the impact of the loss on his life and the continuity of his career.
Toluca beats FC Dallas and advances to the quarterfinalsLater, at 11pm Brasília time, Toluca took the field at Estadio Nemesio Díez, in Mexico, and beat FC Dallas 3-1. The result guaranteed the Mexican team a place in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup.
Alexis Vega opened the scoring from the penalty spot after eight minutes, but Petar Musa equalized almost immediately. Toluca took the lead again in first-half stoppage time, when Federico Viñas scored after an assist from Helinho.
Just five minutes into the final stage, Érick Gutiérrez received the ball from Jesús Gallardo and scored the third, clinching a 3-1 victory. With six points, Toluca confirmed their classification, while FC Dallas was eliminated despite having won the first two games of the initial stage.
Striker Paulinho did not participate in the match. The player continues to recover from a muscle injury and has not yet taken to the field for Toluca at the start of the season.
Messi breaks silence after his father's death: "I wanted to give you the World Cup"
Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 after facing a prolonged illness. On social media, Lionel Messi published a letter to his father and recalled the last few months with him, including the period in which he played in the World Cup while his family member's health worsened.