Inter Miami CF defeated FC Dallas 5-3 in penalties following a 4-4 draw to advance to the Leagues Cup 2023 quarterfinals. Lionel Messi had another stellar performance and was the man of the match again after scoring another late free kick goal that kept Miami from being eliminated in regulation.
FC Dallas started the match on the front foot. Their star, Jesús Ferraira, had the match’s first scoring opportunity within the first two minutes of the match when his header went just wide of the net. In the 3rd minute he had appeared to score a goal, but he was ruled offside.
Four and a half minutes into the match, Toyota Stadium got on its feet following Messi’s first touch of the match, a shot off target. But a minute later, Jordi Alba streaked down the left flank and sent a perfect cutback pass to Messi near the top of the box. On his second touch of the match, Messi curled a low shot inside the left post past a helpless Maarten Paes, to make it 1-0 Inter Miami in the 6th minute.
Following the quick goal, both sides settled into the match, with much of the play stuck in the midfield. But FC Dallas finally broke out in the 37th minute. Argentine Facuno Quignon got on the end of a cross into the box and equalized to make it 1-1
Inter Miami struggled with possession the rest of the half with Sergio Busquets unable to connect with Messi. But FC Dallas kept pushing and just before the half, took the lead 2-1 when Bernard Kamungo found the back of the net.
At the start of the second Half, Ferreira was trouble for the Inter Miami CF defense again but the U.S Men’s National Team player was unable to convert on his dangerous chances in the 49th and 51st minutes.
But in the 63rd minute, the action ramped up. FC Dallas’ own Argentinian star, Alan Velasco, extended FC Dallas’ lead to make it 3-1. Soon after, Inter Miami CF Benjamin Cremaschi, who came off the bench, brought Inter Miami back within one, 3-2, on his first touch of the match.
Three minutes later, Velasco led a counterattack and Robert Taylor, trying to clear the ball, scored an own goal to make 4-2 FC Dallas. That joy didn’t last long for the home team when Marco Farfan score an own goal to close the gap again, 4-3.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, Inter Miami was awarded a free kick a few yards away from the penalty area. Messi took the kick, made the kick, and notched his third consecutive brace to make it 4-4.
Although both teams threatened in what little was left of regulation, neither converted and the match went to penalties.
For Inter Miami CF, the following scored: Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Leonardo Campana, Kamal Miller and Benjamín Cremaschi.
FC Dallas started with Paul Arriola but then Paxton Pomykal missed the target. Although Facundo Quignon and Jesús Ferreira scored theirs, there was nothing to do anymore, Miami didn’t miss.
Despite trailing for the first time during the tournament, Inter Miami CF made it to the quarterfinals of Leagues Cup 2023. The will wait to face the winner of Charlotte FC vs. Houston Dynamo.
