Lionel Messi scored two goals, including the late equaliser, as Inter Miami qualified on penalties for the Leagues Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling game that ended 4-4 at the end of regulation time. A curling free kick in the 85th minute, Messi’s seventh goal in his fourth game for Miami, sent the Floridians, trailing 4-2 ten minutes from time, into the penalty shootout .
The Leagues Cup, a tournament reserved for clubs in Major League Soccer and the Mexican Liga MX, does not provide for extra time, with draws resulting directly in penalties. The Argentine star had given the advantage to Miami from the 6th minute, with a nice recovery on a back pass from Jordi Alba. Dallas equalized in the 37th minute through Argentinian Facundo Quignon, then took the lead just before halftime on a fine goal from Bernard Kamungo.
Another Dallas Argentine, Alan Velasco, made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute with a free kick from the left that went through the crowded penalty area and into the far corner. Miami then closed the gap thanks to a young substitute, Benjamin Cremaschi, who took a low ball from Alba, just a minute after coming on.
But an own goal from Robert Taylor restored Dallas to a two-goal lead Another own goal kept Miami’s hopes alive: Messi sent a free kick into the box and Marco Farfan, unopposed, s is inexplicably directed towards its own purpose. Then, five minutes from time, Miami got a free kick just over 20 yards from goal and Messi swooped in and curled the ball superbly into the top corner.
The Argentine fired and converted the first penalty of the penalty shootout and after Paxton Pomykal missed his shot for Dallas, Benjamin Cremaschi secured Miami’s qualification for the quarter-finals on the final kick.
