By Abdulrahman Samer | Pressbee
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (August 2, 2025) – Inter Miami overcame early adversity, including an injury to Lionel Messi and playing with 10 men, to draw 2–2 with Necaxa and win 5–4 in a dramatic penalty shootout in the Leagues Cup.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
- Lionel Messi exited the match in the 11th minute due to discomfort in his right hamstring.
- Minutes later, Rodrigo De Paul assisted Telasco Segovia to put Inter Miami ahead 1–0.
- Defender Maximiliano Falcón was shown a red card in the 17th minute, leaving Miami with 10 players.
- Necaxa equalized in the 33rd minute through Tomás Badaloni.
- Ricardo Monreal gave Necaxa the lead in the 81st minute.
- In stoppage time, Jordi Alba leveled the match 2–2 with a header off a De Paul free kick.
Penalty Shootout: Calm Under Pressure
- Inter Miami converted all five of their penalties.
- Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made the crucial save on Necaxa’s third attempt.
- Luis Suárez sealed the shootout victory with a powerful shot into the top corner.
Coach Mascherano: "Proud of the Fight"
Head coach Javier Mascherano praised the team's resilience after losing Messi and going down a man early. He confirmed that Messi experienced “hamstring tightness” and would undergo medical evaluation the following day to determine the severity of the injury.
De Paul Steps Up as New Leader
Rodrigo De Paul was the standout player of the night, providing two assists and scoring in the penalty shootout. He posted a match rating of 8.6, completed 80% of his passes, made four key passes, won 11 duels, and drew five fouls.
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