Inter Miami 4-0 Charlotte FC: score, stats and update, Leagues Cup
Inter Miami - Charlotte FC: as it happened
The whistle sounds and Inter Miami advance with an easy win over Charlotte FC.
The Herons will now face the winners of Philadelphia-Queretaro
Messi gets his goal and is now on eight in five games !
Westwood carded for a shove on Busquets.
We'll have two minutes of added time
Nashville win 5-0!
Campana with time and space, slots the ball into the box and the Argentine taps into an empty net.
Too, too easy for Miami!
Five minutes remaining and this has been the easiest of rides in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup campaign as they dominated the game from beginning to end.
Malanda is the unfortunate Charlotte player to stab the ball into his own net.
Excellent play from Charlotte as the move the ball patiently from one side to another and a fine cross meets Agyemang who heads wide with the goal at his mercy.
Just over 15 minutes remain in South Florida.
Inter Miami still not being stretched.
Hydration break time.
Charlotte could really make a decent contest if they could only find a goal but the problem is that despite the danger being caused by Agyemang, they really look void of any creatibity in the final third.
Messi goes close as he links up well with Taylor . Fine intervention from Charlotte to deny the Argentine.
Bender off
Vargas on
Charlotte FC change
Miller now carded as he fouls Agyemang
Westwood carded for clipping Messi.
We pass the hour mark in Florida and Inter Miami still on top as Nashville go 5-0 vs Minnestora.
Campana on for Martinez, another quiet performece from the man from Venezuela.
Charlotte have a go from distance and the introduction of Agyemang has certainly made a difference.
Still Inter Miami well on top though.
Nashville are cruising in Music City as they lead ten man Minnesota by four goals to nil.
Charlotte need an early goal as Miami are looking far, far too comfortable.
Inter Miami almost get themselves in trouble with slack passing. Charlotte have certainly emerged from the dressing room with more ambition.
We're underway again.
The teams are back on the pitch and there are two switches from Charlotte.
Changes for Charlotte at the break?
The Crown have barely left a glove on Inter Miami during the first 45 minutes and as things stand, Inter Miami would meet Philadelphia Union next Tuesday in the semifinal.
The whistle sounds and Inter Miami are in control!
Charlotte win a corner but Miami manager to avert the danger but only for another corner.
Minnesota by the way down to ten men after Taylor was red carded.
Goals flying in as Phlly go ahead vs Queretaro and Nashville are 2-0 up against Minnesota.
We'll have five minutes of time added on.
Charlotte yet to muster a shot on target as we approach the break.
Better from Charlotte as Yedlin is forced to head a dangerous ball in from the right hand side.
It's goalless in the game between Nashville and Minnesota and the Queretaro vs Philadelphia game has finally got underway after a power issue held up kick-off.
The only Leagues Cup goals tonight coming here at the DRV PNK Stadium.
Far to easy for the Finnish international as Yedlin slots the ball into the box and Taylor put the Herons in the driving seat.
Great intricate play between Taylor and Messi end with the Argentine getting a shot off which Charlotte manage to clear.
Miami back on top
Approaching the half hour mark and Charlotte have improved but the Crown have yet to really test Callender in the Inter Miami goal.
Inter Miami sitting off just a little and Charlotte enjoying their best spell of the night.
Charlotte have really struggled to get into the groove tonight and look like a weary side with little spark.
Inter Miami on the other hand look bright and playing like a team brimming with confidence.
78-22 (%) possession after 16 minutes. Miami well on top
Afful clips Arroyo and the ref has no hesitation.
Martinez to take... The No. 17 makes no mistake and Inter Miami take the lead.
Inter Miami are awarded a spot kick.
Charlotte looking well drilled at the back and yet to really suffer at the hands of Messi and co.
Cremaschi is down and needs medical attention after he collides with Arfield.
Messi's first intervention is a sublime cross field ball and Martinez should do better. The former Atlanta United striker has yet to find his rhythm in Florida.
We've seen from recent games that as excellent as Inter Miami are going forward, we've seen the Herons look shaky at the back as Dallas exploited in the recent 4-4 draw.
Off we go in Florida, Inter Miami get the action started.
The teams are on the field and line up. Messi looking relaxed and mellow.
All set in Fort Lauderdale.
The stadium is packed and the teams are poised to take to the field.
Will the Messi magic continue?
The Argentine has been amazing since his debut against Cruz Azul with seven goals in four appearances.
Plenty of Charlotte FC fans in South Florida tonight with the team having little time to prepare after a deluge put Thursday's training session on the back burner.
The objective for the visitors (apart from stopping Messi) is avoiding shipping an early goal.
Power issues sees Philly-Queretaro delayed
There will be a delayed start in Philadelphia due to a power outage in the area.
The Union-Queretaro was scheduled to be the first game of the four quarter finals tonight.
Charlotte's Leagues Cup run
Charlotte FC come into the match without a loss, albeit with much less fanfare than Miami. They beat FC Dallas and Club Necaxa in the group stage. Then they eliminated Cruz Azul in penalties in the round of 32.
The side from Carolina also came very close to defeat in the round of 16, but two late goals within minutes of each other gave them a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.
Miami v Charlotte: match officials
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Ast. Referee 1: Corey Parker
Ast. Referee 2: Kyle Atkins
Fourth official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Allen Chapman
Ast. VAR: Fabio Tovar
South Florida weather.
It's currently 31C-88F temperature in Miami with a high humidity level so expect a series of water breaks during the action.
Charlotte warm up at DRV PNK Stadium
Christian Lattanzio's men will be out to burst the Messi Miami bubble tonight and seem set to play in their away all purple kit.
Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi (C) / CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Lionel Messi’s major MLS impact
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas confirmed that Apple TV figures have doubled since Messi arrived in MLS, where he has scored seven goals and registered one assist in the Leagues Cup, the competition in which Inter Miami will play in the quarter-finals against Charlotte FC tonight.
Charlotte XI named
Christian Lattanzio has named his side to face Miami in the Leagues Cup clash as Swiderski is accompanied by Bender and Jozwiak in attack.
Inter Miami XI
Messi, Alba and Busquets all start again as they did in Dallas and the striking trio features Finn Taylor, Josef Martinez and the man from Rosario.
Charlotte FC
Before Messi's arrival, Inter Miami were having a torrid time in MLS and as things stand, the side from Florida prop up the table with just five wins all season.
Tonight's rivals in Charlotte are also struggling in the league having only registered six wins all season and sit three places above Inter in the table.
Karol Swiderski is very much the Charlotte FC dangerman!
Messi going all pink
The Argentine star is getting onboard with the Inter Miami 'pink' theme with his choice of footwear this evening.
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Inter Miami squad arrive
The Herons are at the DRV PNK Stadium with approximately an hour to go to kick-off.
Despite being announced as a 8:30 pm (ET) start, Leagues Cup games are kicking off roughly ten minutes afte these announced times.
Form guide: Charlotte
August, 2023: Charlotte 2-1 Houston Dynamo
August, 2023: (P)Charlotte 0-0 Cruz Azul
July, 2023: Charlotte 4-1 Nexaca
July, 2023: Dallas 2-2 Charlotte
July, 2023: Montreal 2-0 Charlotte
Form guide: Inter Miami
August, 2023: FC Dallas 4-4 Inter Miami
August, 2023: Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City
July, 2023: Inter Miami 4-0 Atlanta Utd
July, 2023: Inter Miami 2-1 Cruz Azul
July, 2023: Saint Louis City 3-0 Inter Miami
Leagues Cup: quarter final games
Queretaro vs Philadelphia Union
Inter Miami vs Charlotte
Nashville vs Minnesota
LAFC v Rayados
The winners of tonight's game in Florida will advance to face the victor from the Queretaro vs Philadelphia Union clash.
The Liga MX are along with Monterrey the only representatives from south of the border in the final eight teams.
The DRV PNK Stadium is ready
In a few hours the compact stadium will be packed with an expectant crowd looking to see if the Miami Messi magic can be maintained.
Hello and welcome to our live Leagues Cup action as we turn our attention to the quarter final clash in Fort Lauderdale as Inter Miami face Charlotte FC.