Leagues Cup ’23 Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul

The world’s most popular player Leo Messi has arrived in Florida and is still settling into the area and his new club. He has some old faces to help with the transition, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. Some rumors have been circulating and confirmed by Inter Miami that they’re in talks with Luis Suarez as well.

That’s a scary lineup if and when they all step on the pitch together along with their MLS teammates. No MLS team has a defense that is prepared to handle such an onslaught of talent. The arena is filled with celebrities in the new VIP section built just for the Messi insanity, they brought in seats and more from the Miami Formula 1 race that took place earlier this year.

Cruz Azul dominated the majority of the first half, but it was Inter Miami CF who scored first. It was Robert Taylor going to the low corner of the 2nd post for the opening goal of the match in the 44′. The crowd has been waiting to explode and Taylor gave it to them before the half, the half would end with Miami leading 1 – 0 and Messi would start warming up while his teammates went down the tunnel.

Messi goes to warm up on the sideline and the entire arena explodes in Messi chants, it was loud and nearly deafening in Ft. Lauderdale. Then the moment arrived in the 54′ #GOAT Leo Messi steps up to the midfield to be subbed in with Sergio and Josef Martinez. The entire arena explodes to a new level, and they all go quiet for the call heard around the world, “Making his first Appearance ever for Inter Miami CF, welcome to Miami Lionel Messi”. Once his name was announced the place went insane again, then his first ever touch was a thing of beauty as he connected with Robert Taylor and Yedlin to make a run down the right side and nearly got free into the box. A late tap by the defender sent the ball to the corner flag where Messi thought he dispossessed the defender and the place lit up, but the center referee called a foul on Messi and Boo’s rained down instead of raindrops.

In the 65′ Cruz Azul ruins Messi’s debut, Antuna makes a spin move inside the 18 to the left of the goal and sends a blazing shot to the lower corner of the 2nd post for the tying goal 1 – 1. Messi doesn’t look happy and gets the match restarted quickly, going full speed toward the goal with Yedlin, and his pass to Yedlin was blocked last second stopping the goal-scoring chance.

Messi has looked dangerous out there and is working well with his new teammates, the man is not just creating chances, but he is teaching Yedlin and others how to read the field better, pointing out the better options. He is one of the world’s best for a reason, tonight he is showing why. Cruz Azul however has been dangerous all night, they could be up multiple goals at this point. It just shows how weak the backline of Miami truly is, even with Messi creating space and chances the defense isn’t up to snuff.

Messi gets his second shot off and again it’s blocked just enough by the defender to stop pandemonium from breaking out. Allen leaves Messi calling when he airmails a shot to I-95 instead of feeding the wide-open G.O.A.T. of soccer. Messi feeds Martinez for the goal but the flag goes up for offside on the delay and it’s the right call. Cruz Azul with another blast on the goal and another big save by the Miami goalkeeper.

Huge save by the keeper for Azul, Martinez finds Messi and the keeper makes the big save in the 89′. The assistant referee has been busy and gets the offside call correct again. Josef was just a step offside. We may see penalty kicks in Messi’s debut match as there are no ties in League Cup or extra halves. It just goes straight to the spot for the 1 on 1 challenge, Miami has a minimum of 2′ to try and get the winner. Messi is fouled 20 yards from the goal, we all know who is taking this free kick. The legend himself Messi, Messi GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! He is like no one other; the man can do things on free kicks that make goalkeepers go insane. He strikes a beautiful bender on the final play beating the keeper, upper 90 near post, the keeper was there, and Messi made him foolish looking.

The in-house announcer having fun with this goal, says “Leo” and the crowd chants “Messi”, they do this three times while play starts back up for the final second. What a night for Messi and Inter Miami. There were many blunders by the communications department for the match, but at least the man the world wanted to see did his job. Hopefully, Beckham and ownership will look back at all the disasters the P.R. department, and communications department had and clean up the mess. This was a historic game and the biggest damper on the night was the club’s biggest asset employee-wise. Some clubs like to make the easy part the hardest part and create growth issues for the game here in the States.