In a thrilling encounter, 36-year-old Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance, scoring twice to help Inter Miami advance to the quarterfinals of the League Cup on penalties after a captivating 4-4 draw against FC Dallas.
Messi’s trademark curling free-kick in the 85th minute, his seventh goal in his fourth game for Miami, equalized the score and forced the match to be decided by a penalty shootout. Miami trailed 4-2 with just 10 minutes remaining before Messi’s late heroics.
The League Cup, a tournament featuring clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX, does not include extra time, and drawn games proceed directly to penalties.
Messi opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a clinical side-foot finish from a Jordi Alba assist.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the decision was overturned after a referee review determined that Josef Martinez did not obstruct the goalkeeper’s view.
Dallas managed to level the score in the 37th minute when Argentine Facundo Quignon connected with a well-executed pull-back from overlapping full-back Marco Farfan.
Just before halftime, the home side took the lead through Bernard Kamungo, who showcased his skills by leaving two defenders behind before finding the back of the net.
In the 63rd minute, another Argentine player for Dallas, Alan Velasco, extended the lead to 3-1 with a free-kick from the left that went untouched through a crowded box and into the far corner.
Miami, however, narrowed the deficit with a goal from teenage substitute Benjamin Cremaschi, who calmly slotted in a low ball from Alba, a minute after coming off the bench.
Dallas seemed to regain control when Robert Taylor’s attempted interception of a Paul Arriola pass resulted in an own goal, restoring their two-goal lead at 4-2.
But Messi and Miami refused to surrender. The Argentinian maestro chipped a free-kick into the box, and Farfan, unfortunately, headed it into his own goal, leveling the score and keeping Miami’s hopes alive.
The match ultimately went to penalties, where Inter Miami emerged victorious, securing their place in the quarterfinals.