By Tony Álvarez
It was not easy, but Inter Miami CF got the 2-1 win at home to start the Leagues Cup against a very tough Atlas FC team. A late VAR decision proved to be needed to secured the very important three points.
It was a back-and-forth game right from the get-go, as the home side did not waste time to attack and Tadeo Allende quickly had an opportunity in the first half hour of the game, after a quick sprint from the right side and a strong shot that Camilo Vargas deflected with his right foot in the 22nd minute.
Atlas did not take long to answer when only three minutes later Arturo Gonzalez crossed from the right for an in-coming Eduardo Aguirre that delivered a strong header, but Rocco Ríos Novo prevented the goal. It was a very entertaining 0-0 tie game at the half with plenty of chances created on both ends.
To start the second half, Jordi Alba found Lionel Messi after a cross from the left and the Argentinian international delivered a header that went wide but this confirmed that we were in for more of the same and nobody was complaining. Then Luis Suárez delivered a strong shot from his right foot but again Vargas deflected the ball for a corner kick in the 48 minute of action.
All that attacking paid dividends for Inter Miami CF in the 58 minute, when Sergio Busquets delivered a clinical pass to Lionel Messi inside the left side of the box and then “Leo” served to Telasco Segovia when the goalkeeper was looking to block the pass; Segovia delivered a pass of his own but to the net and the MLS side was on top in the scoreboard.
After that, Atlas was poised to tie it up and started to move closer to their opponent´s box. That pressure created ended up in a goal, when the youngster Sergio Hernández sprinted from the left to cross the ball to the middle of the box and after a series of rebounds, Rivaldo Lozano ended shooting towards goal to score for the Zorros for the first time in the tournament at the 80-minute mark.
But we were not done, as in stoppage time things got even crazier. Luis Suárez received the ball from Messi a few steps before entering the box and passed back to him who once again lifted his head and served to Marcelo Weigandt only for him to deliver the game winner at the 90+8 minute; the play was checked by the VAR and confirmed, as Inter Miami CF starts the Leagues Cup on the right foot after crazy thriller.
REACTIONS
- Inter Miami:
- Head Coach Javier Mascherano
- “In the end we play to win and that is what this blessed sport is all about, trying to do everything possible to overcome the rival, perhaps the celebration is a little more of a relief for perhaps having played a good game without having been brilliant"
- Lionel Messi
- “We did a great job and it's a nice test for us too against a Mexican team. The format (of the tournament) has changed and it's something to enjoy and play, and a nice competitive experience.”
- Rodrigo De Paul
- "The reception from my teammates has been great. “Enjoying (Lionel Messi), I'm lucky to have played with him on the national team. Helping him win titles is the most important thing.
- Head Coach Javier Mascherano
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:
- Inter Miami:
- Lionel Messi assisted on both goals tonight; that's more assists than he had in his first 8 Leagues Cup games (1)
- Atlas:
- Camilo Vargas
GAME NOTES:
- Lionel Messi now has 13 goal participations in 8 Leagues Cup games (10 goals, 3 assists)
- Second most goal participations for a player in Leagues Cup since 2023 (Denis Bouanga, 18)
- Rodrigo De Paul made his Inter Miami CF debut and played the full 90 minutes
- Atlas had more shots on target (7) than Inter Miami CF (5)
- Rocco Ríos Novo had 6 saves
CARDS/INJURY REPORT:
Yellow Cards:
- Inter Miami: Federico Redondo, Marcelo Weigandt
- Atlas: Matheus Doria, Jorge Rodríguez, Aldo Rocha
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Inter Miami will play their second game against Club Necaxa at Chase Stadium on August 2
- Atlas will play their second game against Orlando City SC on August 2
