Inter Miami 2-1 Cruz Azul: Messi debuts, summary, score, goals, Leagues Cup 2023
Inter Miami - Cruz Azul: as it happened
Messi Miami magic
We'll sign off tonight but leave you with that Messi free...
Enjoy and take care !
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What an ending to the game.
Just when it seemed we were heading to a Leagues Cup penalty shoot out, up stepped Leo Messi and delivered one of his trademark free kicks with an unstoppable strike that left the stretching Gudiño with no chance.
Inter Miami get their Leagues Cup campaign up and running with a win on Messi's debut but Tata Martino will have concerns about the defensive frailties his side exhibited on too many times during the game and better finishing from the Cruz Azul strikers could have seen a very different scoreline at full time.
As it happened, the night was about one man as Messi made a big, big statement on his Inter Miami debut.
FT: Inter 2-1 Cruz Azul
A winning start for Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
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The bull of the 22,000 fans here at the DRV PNK Stadium are in ecstasy.
Incredible from the best talent of all time.
Still far from fit but we've seen enough from Messi tonight to realise that there's still plenty of magic in Messi's boots.
The whistle sounds and Inter Miami win.
What a debut.
Trademark Messi free.
Top corner.
Messi !
You could not script that !
Messi scores ....
Incredible ....
Free for Miami on the edge of the Cruz Azul box... this is Messi territory !
Dueñas carded as he pulls Robinson back.
Just 2 minutes of added time.
Last minute of the game.
Cruz Azul almost bag a last minute winner.Tabo shoots over.
Messi almost gets in again and this time it's Martinez who is offside.
Messi finds Martinez who slots home but the flag was up and the goal won't count.
Cruz Azul strike at the other end and once again a fine save from Callender deprives 'La Maquina'
Cruz Azul once again find space with great ease.
Inter Miami look excellent going forward but not so hot at the back.
Lotti shoots and Callender saves well.
Escobar and Messi collide as the home fans appeal for a penalty kick.
Cruz Azul subs
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Tired legs apparent now with gaps appearing on the pitch.
Cruz Azul looking strong now as neither Martinez or Messi track back and offer an advantage for the Mexican side.
Sublime pass from Messi as he finds Martinez who beats the keeper but just runs out of space.
Into the final 15' of the action and should the game remain as a tie, then we'd have a bonus penalty shoot-out to see who gets 2 points with the loser just picking up a single point.
Taylor drives the ball over the bar.
Miller seems to have sustained a knock and will be changed by McVey.
Busquets feeds Messi but the Argentine sees his shot blocked.
Messi has looked solid on the ball with some great turns and that precise distribution.
Cheeky from Messi as he looks to find the net from a corner.
Great shot from the Mexican and questions can be asked about the defending.
Gooooool
Cruz Azul draw level and it's Antuna on target.
Cruz Azul changes
Castaño for Cambindo
Inter Miami managing the game well now and looking solid on the ball as Robinson sees a shot blocked.
The three subs have given a level of confidence for the home side.
The No. 10 has been on the ball twice and the decibel levels rise instantly from the home fans.
Free for Inter Miami and Messi to take...the ball is floated in to Martinez and the whistle sounds for a foul.
So more than 25 minutes for Messi to make an impact.
Cruz Azul not enjoying the same dominance we saw in the first 45 minutes.
Inter Miami fans delirious !
Messi on for Cremaschi
Busquets on for Ruiz
Martinez on for Campana
Triple sub from Inter Miami imminent with Busquets and Josel Martinez also primed to come on.
Messi is poised to make an entrance.
It's Messi time folks !
A huge cheer goes up from the crowd and we can only assume it's Messi related as Allen sends a dangerous ball into the box.
A handful of the Inter Miami subs warm up (Messi included) with speculation that he and Busquets both requested that they get 30 minutes of playing time.
Off we go as Inter Miami start the second 45'.
Robbie Robinson has really caught the eye tonight for Inter Miami.
The teams return to the pitch.
Messi reaction to the goal
Delight for the Argentine after Taylor drove home with the aid of a post.
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Miami lead at the interval
A fine strike from Taylor is enough for the home side to lead 1-0 at the break.
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Inter Miami ahead but the Cruz Azul players will be wondering how they failed to take advantage of the sloppy defending from Inter Miami at the early stage of the game.
The whistle sounds for the break and against the run of play, Inter Miami lead after a fine strike from Taylor with the Finnish international the hero for the DRV PNK Stadium.
Cruz Azul win a corner after excellent work from Moises.
MIA 1-0 CAZ
Taylor strike drived La Familia into raptures.
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We'll have fine minutes of added time.
Fine strike from the No. 16 and the goal very much against the run of play.
What a goal from Taylor and Inter Miami lead!
Into the final five minutes of the first half and the surprise of the game is the scoreline.
Amazing that Cruz Azul are not a goal or two ahead.
First card of the night goes to Arroyo as he bundles into a Cruz Azul player and is rightly carded.
Cruz Azul go close again.
Corner for 'La Maquina' but the 'Herons' clear.
Past the half hour mark and Cruz Azul lead in terms of possession 58-43(%)
Change for Cruz Azul too as Escobar is on for Huescas.
Nope, Noah Allen is the replacement.
Fray will be replaced by Cristian Jimenez
This does not look good as Ian Fray is on the ground and seems to have damaged his knee.
The defender has already undergone two ACL injuries and just pulled up and looks to be in some distress.
Better from the Herons as Robinson does well and force a fine intervention from Gudiño as Campana almost nods home but fails to get any speed on his header.
Messi looks on with a anxious look on his face.
His Inter Miami side have been second best in every department to a Cruz Azul side that should be two goals ahead.
How the Liga MX are not ahead in this game is a great mystery.
Not sure what immediate impact Messi-Busquets can have on a team that look to weak defensively.
Cruz Azul are in yet again... Inter Miami are so vulnerable in defense... Cambindo again and the Colombian is wasteful.
Cruz Azul could easily be 0-3 up!
Cruz Azul almost make it 1-0 as Rotondi rockets the ball off the post and Cambindo blazes the rebound over the bar.
First effort from Inter Miami as Campana breaks and gets a shot off but his effort is straight at Cruz Azul's keeper.
The Mexican side very much in charge after just a few minutes.
Cruz Azul get in yet again and this time Moises shoots and once again it's Drake Callender to the rescue.
Inter Miami win an early corner and manage to break from the kick as Rivero strikes and forces a save from Callender.
The home side getting carved open with ease on the break.
Cruz Azul create early danger as Miller almost gives the ball away but the offside flag was up.
Off we go in Miami.
The visitors get the game underway.
All set ... the teams are on the pitch and tonight's game a great chance for both sides to put aside domestic league form temporarily.
Pink smoke bellows onto the pitch from the Inter Miami fans and we're just minutes away from the teams taking to the pitch.
Plenty of Argentina shirts being worn by fans tonight as we see Messi sitting with Josef Martinez and Sergio Busquets on the subs bench.
Inter Miami to sport all pink tonight with Cruz Azul in blue as Becky G sings the US National anthem.
If I'm not mistaken, Becky is a shareholder in NWSL side Angel FC.
A packed stadium with a huge sense of anticipation as many talk of tonight's game being a 'game changing' moment in US soccer.
Kim Kardashian just confirming to the Apple pitchside reporter that she used to play soccer and was a goalkeeper and centre forward.
The stands at the DRV PNK Stadium is awash with black and pink. There are a few Cruz Azul fans here tonight with the odd pocket of blue breaking the pink/black pattern.
LeBron catching up with David Beckham and Posh Spice as kick-off looms.
The teams are on the pitch and as is the case in so many US sports, I'd say that it's difficult that the pre-published start time of 8pm (ET) will be met.
Kim Kardashian in the house
The model and influencer is just one of the high profile stars in Miami for Messi's debut with LeBron James also expected at the DRV PNK Stadium for the Leagues Cup clash.
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In addition to Cruz Azul, the Herons will also face Atlanta United on Tuesday, July 25 as they look to advance to the knockout stages with two of the three teams progressing to the Round of 32.
Messi starts on bench
As was anticipated, both Messi and Busquets will make their Inter Miami debuts from the bench.
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Team news!
First up we have the Cruz Azul XI ahead of the Leagues Cup clash at the DRV PNK Stadium.
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Sold out
Before Messi’s arrival in Miami was announced, tickets for the match against Cruz Azul were sold for as low as $29, but once the Argentine’s move was confirmed, prices rocketed on second hand ticket resales platforms with the cheapest available match reached now selling for over four figures.
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Today's other fixtures
There is also Leagues Cup taking place in other grounds across the country with Mazatlan and Leon the other Liga MX sides in action this evening.
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We should have the official team news for both Inter Miami and Cruz Azul within five minutes.
Will Tata Martino start Messi or prefer to use the Argentine as an impact sub in the second half?
The calm before the storm...
This is how the DRV PNK Stadium looks prior to kick-off.
This game is a sell-out with tickets exchanging hands for 'crazy money' on the second hand ticket market.
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Securing points in Leagues Cup
The format for the Leagues Cup (devised by Concacaf) will see all match-ups played as one-off games, both in the group stage and in the knockouts. And there will be no ties in the first round. As is usually the case, teams will collect three points for a group stage win across 90 minutes and will go home empty-handed if they lose.
If teams are level at the end of regulation time, then the match will go straight to a penalty shootout (no extra time), with the winner collecting one extra point. That means two points for winning on penalties, and one for the spot-kick losers.
Inter Miami’s reported lineup vs Cruz Azul
Callender
Fray - Kryvtsov - Miller Yedlin
Taylor - Cremaschi - Arroyo - David Ruiz - Robinson
Campana
According to Argentine Gaston Edul, this is the team Tata Martino will employ this evening for the Leagues Cup opener vs Cruz Azul.
Inter Miami arrive at the DRV PNK Stadium
The Inter Miami expedition arrives at the stadium with all eyes on the No. 10.
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Inter struggling in MLS
Inter Miami too have failed to find the groove domestically as they prop up the Eastern Conference table.
With just 12 games to go in the regular season, it's looking unlikely that the 'Herons' will secure post season football and the Leagues Cup offers a perfect platform for the club to aspire to silverware in 2023.
Inter are also still involved in the 2023 US Open Cup but face a tricky away semi-final tie to high flying Cincinnati.
Cruz Azul: recent form
July, 2023: Cruz Azul 0-2 Toluca
July, 2023: Atlas 2-0 Cruz Azul
May, 2023: Cruz Azul 0-1 Atlas
April, 2023: Cruz Azul 3-2 Santos
April, 2023: Guadalajara 2-1 Cruz Azul
Inter Miami: recent form
July, 2023: DC United 2-2 Inter Miami
July, 2023: Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus
July, 2023: Inter Miami 1-1 Columbus
June, 2023: Philadelphia 4-1 Inter Miami
June, 2023: New England 3-1 Inter Miami
Cruz Azul looking to crash the party
The Mexican giants have started the new Apertura 2023 season in terrible form and currently prop up the league table with three defeats and 0 points.
The Leagues Cup offers the 'Cementeros' a brief respite from the domestic campaign and a chance to spoil the party in Miami.
Messi to start on the bench?
According to the well connected Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, both Messi and Busquets are set to start for Inter Miami on the bench.
This is not 100% official as we expect to have the definitive team news roughly 60 minutes ahead of the start.
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Messi Miami madness
The arrival of the Argentine has generated headlines across the world with anticipation and demand sky-high as fans resort to paying inflated prices on the second hand ticket market desperate to see the striker at close quarters.
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One name dominates the headlines today across the world and that is Lionel Messi with the Argentine expected to make his debut for the South Florida club tonight with early expectation suggesting that the World Cup winner will actually start for the 'Herons'
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Leagues Cup opener as Inter Miami (MLS) face Cruz Azul (Liga MX) with the action getting underway at 8pm (ET).