Lionel Messi scored another two goals — that’s now 7 goals in his first 4 games — and Inter Miami came back to tie FC Dallas 4-4 and advance on penalty kicks to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.
In a thrilling match, Messi and Inter Miami were down 4-2 with 10 minutes to go, but they managed to level things at 4-4 with the equalizer scored by Messi on another majestic free-kick. It was the first time that Inter Miami faced a deficit with Messi, and they found a way through the adversity.
OTRO GOLAZO DE NUESTRO CAPITÁN ???? ????????#DALvMIA | 4-4 pic.twitter.com/aOhBw7LJGZ
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 7, 2023
During the penalty shootout, Miami scored on all five of their attempts, while FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal missed to condemn his team to a heartbreaking defeat in a match they looked to have under total control.
Inter Miami’s 18-year-old academy product Benja Cremaschi scored during regulation, and then netted the fifth and decisive penalty kick to send Inter Miami into a quarterfinal they will host against either Houston Dynamo or Charlotte FC.
This match was Inter Miami’s first road game with Lionel Messi and the scene at a sold-out Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas was as wild and electric as you’d imagine it to be.
There were many there just to see Lionel Messi, of course, and there were often “Messi, Messi” chants that could be heard with fans wanting to see him do something special. And they got their money’s worth, including two assists from Jordi Alba who was making his first start for Inter Miami.
