Miami advances to Leagues Cup semis without Messi: Drama vs Tigres!

Inter Miami Advances to the 2025 Leagues Cup Semifinals

In an exciting match played at Chase Stadium, Inter Miami CF secured their place in the semi-finals of the Leagues Cup 2025 after defeating Tigres UANL with a score of 2-1. Despite the absence of their captain and star, Lionel Messi, who was unable to play due to a muscle injury, the team managed to prevail and advance in the tournament. The match started favorably for Miami, who obtained a penalty after a handball by Tigres defender Javier Aquino inside the area. Luis Suárez was in charge of executing the penalty, scoring the first goal of the match. However, the team suffered a setback in the first half when Jordi Alba was injured after an accidental collision with his teammate Telasco Segovia. Alba, although he tried to continue playing, had to be substituted at halftime, and his injury will be evaluated in the coming days. Before the start of the second half, coach Javier Mascherano was sent off with a red card for protesting the added time at the end of the first half. This forced him to leave the bench and watch the rest of the match from the stands. Mascherano will not be able to coach in the semi-finals and could be suspended for up to three matches due to the red card and for communicating with the bench after being sent off.

“It’s not clear, what happened at the end of the first part is that the referee added four minutes [of added time] and we ended up playing six or something like that. So we discussed the time, you are human and you start talking. It wasn’t clear, but the referee said that Javier [Mascherano] received a red card and that’s all.

Javi Morales, assistant coach of Inter Miami

With the match in progress, Tigres managed to control possession and scored a goal in the 67th minute thanks to Ángel Correa, a new summer signing and teammate of Messi in the Argentine national team. However, Tigres’ joy was short-lived, as a second penalty in favor of Inter Miami, for another handball inside the area, gave Suárez the opportunity to score again in the 89th minute. In the final minutes, a header from Edgar López of Tigres hit both posts, but Miami managed to hold the lead and secure the victory.

“After all, it was wild, but I think we played a very good first half. We played the game we wanted. We scored a goal, we created chances. We found a way to keep fighting and win”.

Javi Morales, Inter Miami assistant coach

In the next phase, Inter Miami will face Orlando City, who defeated Toluca in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in regulation time.