Inter Miami CF opened the scoring in their **Leagues Cup 2023** semi-final against **Philadelphia Union** after just three minutes through Josef Martínez, in what was another show of one of the team’s strong points: getting on the scoresheet early on. Not only have the Florida outfit been one of the best teams in the tournament, but they’ve also been the first to score in every single one of their match-ups so far.
On top of having the tournament’s top goalscorer in Lionel Messi, the team also has the ability to strike first, having broken the deadlock in all six of their games in Leagues Cup action.
In their curtain-raiser, it was Robert Taylor who scored just before half-time against Cruz Azul, a game that the Florida outfit would go on to win 2-1. In their second group stage match, Lionel Messi found the net within the first 8 minutes in what would be a 4-0 win over Atlanta United FC.
Messi went one better in the Round of 32 game against Orlando City SC, firing in the opener before the 7-minute mark in a 3-1 win. The Argentine maestro didn’t stop there, though, and scored on 6 minutes in the dramatic 4-4 draw against FC Dallas in the next game, which the team would win on penalties.
With a spot in the semifinals on the line, it was Josef Martínez who stepped up on 12 minutes to break the deadlock against Charlotte FC.
Such is Inter Miami CF’s efficiency that four of those six openers have come in the first ten minutes - a feat which they managed against Atlanta United FC, Orlando City, FC Dallas and Philadelphia Union.
They remain the team with the most goals in the tournament so far. Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s men have scored 21 times, followed by Nashville SC on 12, CF Monterrey with 12, and Philadelphia Union on 11 strikes.
