Messi's dream debut provides a spectacular opening for the new League Cup
July 23 - It's been a dream start for Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and the inaugural League Cup which sees MLS and Liga MX clubs halt league play for a month-long tournament across the US and Canada in July and August.
The tournament opened with the final two teams in MLS and LigaMX facing off in Fort Lauderdale - InterMiami vs. Cruz Azul. But regardless of their positions in the league, it's a different competition and it was only going to be Messi's night.
In one of the most anticipated American sports debuts in recent memory, the night more than lived up to expectations.
Fans had to wait until the 70th minute before World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi came out. They then had to wait for a moment of pure genius in second-half stoppage time.
A free kick on the edge of the Cruz Azul penalty area, with the score at 1-1, saw Messi step in and curl a brilliant left-footed shot into the top corner of Cruz Azul's goal, right on the script, and sending the crowd of 21,000 spectators wild.
"I knew it was the last chance," Messi said. "I just tried like I always do and luckily the goalkeeper couldn't get the ball back.
"It's important for this team to get wins because we're not in a good position in the league. I know it's another tournament, but it will lift our spirits."
League Cup Sparkler
It wasn't just a boost for InterMiami, it marked a dramatic start to the new League Cup.
The tournament between the 47 clubs in the LigaMx and MLS opens with 15 three-team groups played across the United States in a round-robin format. The top two from each group advance to a knockout stage (where they join pre-qualifiers LAFC and Pachuca) for single matches until the final on August 19.
The League Cup champions will earn a place in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Concacacf Champions Cup (renamed Champions League), while the losing runner-up and third-place winner will also earn a place in the Champions Cup first round.
An interesting change for the tournament is that every game will have a winner - there will be no draw. Full-time tied games will go straight to a penalty kick tiebreaker, with the winner of that shootout receiving two points while the loser gets one. The winners of the match in regulation time will get three points and the losers zero points.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1690214839labto1690214839ofdlr1690214839owedi1690214839sni@n1690214839osloh1690214839cin.l1690214839uap1690214839
July 23 - It's been a dream start for Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and the inaugural League Cup which sees MLS and Liga MX clubs halt league play for a month-long tournament across the US and Canada in July and August.
The tournament opened with the final two teams in MLS and LigaMX facing off in Fort Lauderdale - InterMiami vs. Cruz Azul. But regardless of their positions in the league, it's a different competition and it was only going to be Messi's night.
In one of the most anticipated American sports debuts in recent memory, the night more than lived up to expectations.
Fans had to wait until the 70th minute before World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi came out. They then had to wait for a moment of pure genius in second-half stoppage time.
A free kick on the edge of the Cruz Azul penalty area, with the score at 1-1, saw Messi step in and curl a brilliant left-footed shot into the top corner of Cruz Azul's goal, right on the script, and sending the crowd of 21,000 spectators wild.
"I knew it was the last chance," Messi said. "I just tried like I always do and luckily the goalkeeper couldn't get the ball back.
"It's important for this team to get wins because we're not in a good position in the league. I know it's another tournament, but it will lift our spirits."
League Cup Sparkler
It wasn't just a boost for InterMiami, it marked a dramatic start to the new League Cup.
The tournament between the 47 clubs in the LigaMx and MLS opens with 15 three-team groups played across the United States in a round-robin format. The top two from each group advance to a knockout stage (where they join pre-qualifiers LAFC and Pachuca) for single matches until the final on August 19.
The League Cup champions will earn a place in the Round of 16 of the 2024 Concacacf Champions Cup (renamed Champions League), while the losing runner-up and third-place winner will also earn a place in the Champions Cup first round.
An interesting change for the tournament is that every game will have a winner - there will be no draw. Full-time tied games will go straight to a penalty kick tiebreaker, with the winner of that shootout receiving two points while the loser gets one. The winners of the match in regulation time will get three points and the losers zero points.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1690214839labto1690214839ofdlr1690214839owedi1690214839sni@n1690214839osloh1690214839cin.l1690214839uap1690214839
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