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Lionel Messi found yet another way to live up to the Messi Mania hype.
And Inter Miami is moving on in the Leagues Cup after a thriller in Dallas.
Messi scored two goals, including the equalizer to tie the game at 4 in the 85th minute, and Inter Miami advanced past FC Dallas with a 5-3 edge on penalty kicks.
Four games. Four victories.
And this one in comeback fashion for Messi, the World Cup champion with Argentina and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, and his new club.
WORLD CUP CENTRAL: 2023 Women’s World Cup Live Scores, Schedules, Standings, Bracket and More
“I thought we had it,” FC Dallas coach Nico Estévez said. “We put them in a really difficult position in this game.”
Messi and Inter Miami advance to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Aug. 11 or 12, where they await the winner of Monday night’s Houston Dynamo FC-Charlotte FC matchup.
Messi tied the game in the 85th with a brilliant free kick into the right side of the net.
If his game-winning free kick in his Inter Miami debut was the most memorable, this kick had to be the most exciting so far in his MLS tenure, helping Inter Miami crawl back out of a two-goal deficit in the second half.
“I think it’s not much to say. I think everyone can see it,” Estévez said. “It’s obvious for him a free kick around there is like a PK for another player.”
Messi’s game-tying goal set the stage for the penalty kick shootout, for which he won the coin toss and then made the first goal.
FC Dallas’ Paxton Pomykal missed the second kick, dooming the home team after an impressive performance considering the stage.
Benjamin Cremaschi, an 18-year-old Miami native of Argentinian descent, sealed the final kick for Inter Miami.
“I knew where I was going, and I knew how I was going to take it,” said Cremaschi, who also sparked Inter Miami’s comeback off the bench with a goal in the 65th minute.
Inter Miami trailed 2-1 at halftime, 3-1 to start the second half and 4-2 after an own goal by Robert Taylor in the 68th minute.
It felt like Inter Miami’s own goal was the back-breaking blow, especially three minutes after Cremaschi’s goal.
But Messi took over.
Messi’s free kick connected with FC Dallas’ Marco Farfan, who scored an own goal of his own in the 80th minute, changing the tide of the contest.
And Messi’s final free kick of the game, before the penalty shootout, helped Inter Miami storm back in dramatic fashion.
“You have this sensation that he’s going to score,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said, likening Messi’s penchant for scoring free kicks as a 90-10 advantage for Messi and 10-90 disadvantage for any other player.
It was Messi’s first road game with Inter Miami, and the club’s first deficit since Messi arrived.
It was also the first time Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba started together like they did as FC Barcelona teammates in their heyday.
Alba made his presence felt with two assists, on Messi’s opening goal in the sixth minute and Cremaschi’s score.
But it appeared Alba’s position on the left side was off-putting for Taylor, who had scored three goals in Messi’s first three games but was ineffective in this match.
Messi did his part to carry Inter Miami, and Cremaschi’s spark lifted the club to the next round of Leagues Cup play.
And for soccer fans craving more Messi, they won’t have to wait much longer to see him shine again in his next game.
“It was a demonstration of character because it’s difficult to come back in a game twice,” Martino said in a postgame interview with Apple TV.
When does Lionel Messi play next?
Inter Miami will play the winner of the Houston Dynamo FC vs. Charlotte FC game, which will be played Monday night at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston (10 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás and Apple TV).
That Leagues Cup quarterfinals game is scheduled for Friday at DRV PNK Stadium. The time is TBD.
Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas score, highlights
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and FC Dallas produced a thrilling game that featured plenty of highlights. Take a look:
Inter Miami, FC Dallas goes to penalty kicks
As if this match could be more compelling, it’ll be decided by penalty kicks.
There’s no overtime in Leagues Cup play.
After a 4-4 tie, both sides will decide it with a shootout.
Messi goal: Inter Miami 4, FC Dallas 4
The biggest star in the biggest moment.
Messi scored in the 85th minute to help Inter Miami tied the game at 4 against FC Dallas.
Inter Miami faced a two-goal deficit in the second half, and Messi delivered.
FC Dallas 4, Inter Miami 3
How about another own goal? This time for the other side.
Messi lined up for a free kick, sending all the players toward the net.
And Marco Farfan hit the ball in his own net to trim the FC Dallas lead in the 80th minute.
Just when Inter Miami appeared on the ropes, the own goal put them back in the mix for the final 10 minutes.
FC Dallas 4, Inter Miami 2
FC Dallas takes a 4-2 lead thanks to an own goal by Inter Miami’s Robert Taylor, who slid and kicked the ball into the opposition’s net.
Inter Miami, three minutes after trimming the deficit down to 1, are staring at a two-goal deficit again.
FC Dallas 3, Inter Miami 2
Inter Miami isn’t down and out just yet.
Jordi Alba has his second assist of the game, and Benjamin Cremaschi scored in the 65th minute to give Inter Miami some life.
While Inter Miami trails, the quick answer came two minutes after FC Dallas took a commanding lead.
FC Dallas 3, Inter Miami 1
Alan Velasco scored in the 63rd minute, setting off a chain of goals for both sides in the second half.
Halftime: FC Dallas 2, Inter Miami 1
Two goals in the span of eight minutes, and Inter Miami is facing its first deficit in the Messi era.
Bernard Kamungo snuck a goal right by Inter Miami’s defender and goalie near the right side of the next in the 45th minute, and FC Dallas has taken a 2-1 lead.
Inter Miami had been tied against opponents, but never trailed against an opponent with Messi in the lineup.
Now, the adversity builds for Messi in his first road game with Inter Miami.
Facundo Quignon goal: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 1
We’ve got a tied game in Dallas.
Facundo Quignon found the back of the net following an assist from Marco Farfan in the 37th minute, and it’s tied 1-1.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Inter Miami in the Messi era.
Inter Miami was tied 1-1 with Orlando City before halftime, and finished with a 3-1 win.
Lionel Messi goal: Inter Miami 1, FC Dallas 0
Messi continues to score as fast as he can, and he’s up to six goals with Inter Miami.
Messi’s left boot connected for a goal in the sixth minute, to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead over FC Dallas.
Messi has scored goals in the eighth minute during his first start, seventh in his second start, and now in the sixth minute of his third start for Inter Miami.
The goal was made official later after a review.
Messi’s goal was initially disallowed, but reviewed by the referees. Inter Miami’s Josef Martinez was offsides, but he stayed out of the goalie’s line of vision and did not make a play on the ball as Messi skated the goal right by him.
Hottest game of Leo Messi’s career?
Messi’s first road game will touch triple digits in temperature. The temperature was at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the pitch, according to the Apple TV’s Katie Withman.
Withman reported teams will have hydration breaks during the game, which also has a later start time (8:30 p.m. CT) to cope with the conditions.
According to MLS, cooling and drinks breaks will be held approximately 30 minutes into each half (around the 30th and 75th minute, respectively). The ball must be out of play for either the cooling or drinks break to commence.
Check out Leo Messi during warmups
Messi’s arrival to American soccer has been met with quite the fanfare.
And his entrance onto the pitch before tonight’s game was exciting for fans in attendance.
Messi, Busquets, Alba make first Inter Miami start together
Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – the former FC Barcelona teammates who have joined Inter Miami – will make their first starts together with their new team.
Messi and Busquets are three games into their Inter Miami careers, while Alba made his debut off the bench in Inter Miami’s last game against Orlando City.
Here are the starting lineups for both teams:
Sweet treat could get … Messi
FC Dallas is premiering a new food item that could get … Messi.
The XL Ice Cream Sandwich features 18 ounces of vanilla ice cream and a cookie sandwich made up of 12 chocolate chip cookies, according to this tweet by Darren Rovell.
This lives up to the “Everything is Bigger in Texas” mantra, for sure.
Lionel Messi highlights with Inter Miami
Messi has two braces, or two goals scored in each of his last two games. His first goal in each game occurred before the 10-minute mark.
So, Inter Miami has gotten off to fast starts in games Messi has started.
Messi also hit the game-winning goal in his Inter Miami debut in extra time.
Messi’s last game, against Orlando City, was the first complete game he played for Inter Miami. He came off the bench in his debut, and lasted until the 78th minute in his second game.
When will Lionel Messi play next?
The winner of the Inter Miami-FC Dallas game will face the Houston Dynamo FC–Charlotte FC winner in the quarterfinals on Aug. 11-12.
If Inter Miami is bounced from the Leagues Cup, it will have an extended break until the MLS regular season resumes on Aug. 20.
What is the Leagues Cup?
It’s a 47-team tournament that has pit Major League Soccer teams against teams in Mexico’s Liga MX.
The quarterfinals begin Aug. 11-12.
The semifinals will be on Aug. 16.
The final and third-place game will be held on Aug. 19.
How has Lionel Messi fared in his Inter Miami stint so far?
Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest player in the sport, punctuated his first Inter Miami game with a game-winning goal in extra time during the 94th minute on a free kick about 25 yards out. The goal helped Inter Miami beat LIGA MX team Cruz Azul 2-1 on July 21.
Here is Messi’s first Inter Miami highlight:
In Messi’s second game, he scored two goals within the first 22 minutes of the match. He also delivered a second-half assist, leading Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory against Atlanta United on July 25.
Messi’s first goal against Atlanta was in the first nine minutes:
And here’s the highlight of Messi’s second goal against Atlanta, and his third overall so far:
Messi scored twice in his third Inter Miami game, a 3-1 win over Orlando City SC in the first knockout round of the Leagues Cup.
The first came after teammate Robert Taylor delivered a dime to Messi, who banged in the game’s first goal.
On the game-clinching goal, Taylor found Josef Martinez, who unselfishly passed a short kick to Messi, who finished the slick sequence.
What is Inter Miami’s remaining 2023 schedule?
- Aug. 6: vs. FC Dallas (Leagues Cup), 9:30 p.m. ET
- Aug. 20: vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Aug. 23: at FC Cincinnati (U.S. Open Cup), 7 p.m. ET
- Aug. 26: at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Aug. 30: vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 3: at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 9: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 16: at Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 20: vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 24: at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Sept. 30: vs. New York City Fc, 7:30 p.m.
- Oct. 4: at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 7: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Oct. 21: at Charlotte FC, 6 p.m. ET
Where can I watch Lionel Messi with Inter Miami?
With the exception of the U.S. Open Cup semifinal game on Aug. 23 (which will be available to stream on the CBS Sports Golazo Network), all other Inter Miami games are available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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