Lionel Messi He played a role in all three goals Inter Miami Landed for the first time American League Cup With a hard-fought victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.
Playing at home at Chase Stadium, Miami took an early lead when Tadeo Allende’s cross was turned into its own net by Whitecaps defenseman Eder Ocampo.
Ali Ahmed equalized after the hour mark, but Messi passed the ball to Rodrigo De Paul to score Miami’s second goal 19 minutes before the end of the match. Vancouver was the better team for long periods, but faltered again in stoppage time when Messi passed the ball to Tadeo Allende and sealed the win.
The Canadians got off to a great start in the Florida sunshine, but survived Miami’s first serious attack. Some great movement from Messi down the right flank enabled De Paul to push forward. The Argentine midfielder, in turn, passed the ball to Allende and sent a cross that Ocampo turned into the net.
Vancouver is a tough fight
Emanuel Sabpi saw a penalty appeal rejected at the other end after collapsing theatrically under a challenge from Baltasar Rodriguez.
Vancouver should have equalized after 34 minutes but Brian White could only head Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick straight past goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.
Reus Novo made a more difficult save four minutes later, spreading out superbly to block Saby’s shot after good work from Thomas Müller inside the penalty area.
Ocampo escaped a red card for raising his arm in Rodriguez’s face but was booked for his challenge.
Referee Drew Fisher was equally lenient when Rodriguez risked a second yellow card during a trip on Sabby, despite heavy pressure from the Whitecaps players and substitutes.
Messi came close to scoring in the 58th minute with a header that went wide of the goal, and that was a pivotal moment as Vancouver equalized two minutes later.
Sabbi was the engineer with a powerful shot and pass to White, who passed it to Ahmed, whose shot evaded Ríos Novo and hit the post.
Vancouver was on a roll and was inches away from making it 2-1 after 61 minutes, as Saby’s shot hit the goalposts before Miami could clear it.
Messi prepares De Paul to score the second goal for Miami
Completely against the run of play, Miami regained the lead 10 minutes later. Messi grabbed the ball from Andres Kubas and passed it to De Paul and did not make any mistakes.
Vancouver flowed forward but that left space at the back and no one was more capable of exploiting it than Messi.
The 38-year-old sent the ball into Allende’s path and he fired past Yuhi Takaoka.
“All the emotions came out in the last few minutes of the game,” Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “All thanks to Vancouver, they played a great game and put us under a lot of pressure. After their goal they were on top of us. But there was a change, and when you give the ball to Leo he creates chances. The team sticks together and they’ve done that all year.”
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2025-12-06 22:06:00
