By Andy González
Inter Miami began its Leagues Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory against Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Atlético de San Luis came out fearless in the opening minutes, playing Inter Miami toe-to-toe and showing no hesitation against the Leagues Cup favorites.
San Luis struck first when Román Torres delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and David Rodríguez, who had started the play, rose to meet it with a powerful header to give Atlético the early lead in the 4th minute.
However, Inter Miami quickly responded, with Lionel Messi, making his first start since the World Cup, leveling the match with a brilliant finish. Noah Allen delivered a cross from the left, and the Argentine legend made no mistake, calmly finishing with his magical left foot to level the game in the 11th minute.
Shortly after, Daniel Pinter appeared to have put another one away for San Luis, but the goal was ruled offside.
Eventually, Inter Miami found its second. Telasco Segovia narrowly beat the offside line to put Miami back in front in the 26th minute, capping a brilliant sequence. Yannick Bright played a perfectly weighted pass to Allen, who beat Andrés Sánchez before finding Segovia for the finish.
Miami continued to take control, and Messi added another goal with a brilliant individual finish. The Argentine brought the ball down beautifully before finding the back of the net again in the 44th minute, with Allen picking up another assist.
Just before halftime, Messi delivered again. His dangerous corner found Micael, who rose above the defense and headed the ball home to give Inter Miami an even bigger advantage seven minutes into first-half stoppage time.
After the restart, Atlético de San Luis refused to go quietly. Just five minutes into the second half, San Luis pulled one back after a beautiful team sequence involving Rafa Llorente, Sébastien Salles-Lamonge and Felipe Mora. Llorente ultimately capped off the move with a beautiful finish to keep the match within reach.
The game was later interrupted by a weather delay, temporarily stopping the action as both teams waited for conditions to improve.
Despite efforts by the Liga MX side to fight back into the match, Inter Miami held on to secure the victory, with Messi once again proving to be the difference-maker.
REACTIONS:
- Inter Miami Head Coach Guillermo Hoyos
- “I think it was a grueling game for both teams, but we have a lot of firepower going forward. That’s what our game is built around, and with that comes the risk of leaving ourselves exposed.”
- “The timing and space he had to strike, and the way he gets his foot around it in mid-air… if it were a painting, it’d be a Picasso.”
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:
- Inter Miami
- Lionel Messi was once again the difference-maker for Inter Miami, scoring twice and adding an assist to lead Miami to victory.
- Noah Allen delivered three assists in the first half to help Inter Miami take the lead after giving up the opening goal.
GAME NOTES:
- Lionel Messi finished with two goals and an assist in his first start since the World Cup.
- Messi reaches 14 career Leagues Cup goals (tied for most all-time).
- Inter Miami homegrown Noah Allen put together the best offensive performance of his young career by contributing three assists.
- David Rodríguez, a San Luis Potosí native and FC Dallas Academy product, scored his first goal in the Leagues Cup
- Felipe Mora made his first start with Atlético de San Luis after recently transferring from MLS side Portland Timbers
CARDS/INJURY REPORT:
- Yellow Cards:
- Inter Miami: Ian Fray
- Injury Report:
- Inter Miami: Matteo Silvetti left the match in the 84th minute
LOOKING AHEAD
- Inter Miami: Aug. 8 vs. Monterrey
- Atlético San Luis: Aug. 9 vs. Nashville
