Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will look for a spot in the 2023 Leagues Cup semifinals this Friday at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), when they receive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Charlotte FC in the quarterfinals of the tournament, disputed by teams of the MLS and the Mexican league.
Also on July 17, Messi was presented as one of the stars of MLS and has already caused a sensation with decisive performances that led Inter Miami to advance in this Cup of Leagues, in which he scored seven goals in four matches.
In the group stage, Inter Miami beat Cruz Azul 2-1 and Lionel Messi scored the winning goal with a free kick in stoppage time. Afterwards, the Argentine scored two goals in the 4-0 defeat of Atlanta United.
In the round of 16, Inter Miami eliminated Orlando City from the tournament by winning 3-1 with two more goals from the Argentine star.
The round of 16 duel against FC Dallas was more complicated for Inter Miami, and Messi was again decisive: he scored the first goal of the match and the 4-4 draw very close to the end of the match, also with a free kick, taking to a penalty shootout.
In the kicks, Messi and the Spaniard Sergio Busquets hit theirs and Inter Miami secured qualification for the quarterfinals.
“What Leo did is neither more nor less than what he did a few months ago in the World Cup. He is confirming with facts what he said when he arrived in the MLS, that he wanted to compete and try to win”, declared the Argentine Gerardo Martino, coach of Inter Miami, after the victory in the Round of 16.
Focused on Friday 👊 pic.twitter.com/h90ZMYvLhE
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 10, 2023
Messi “always dangerous and sharp”
In the quarterfinals, Inter Miami’s opponent will be Charlotte FC. The match will be played at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Commanded by the Italian Christian Lattanzio, Charlotte FC had a more difficult trajectory in the Leagues Cup: in the group stage they drew with FC Dallas and then won on penalties and then thrashed Necaxa by 4-1.
In the round of 32, Charlotte eliminated Cruz Azul on penalties and in the round of 16, they defeated Houston Dynamo.
Regarding the quarterfinals against Inter Miami, Lattanzio highlighted: “We will have a difficult match because we are playing against a team that is in a good phase and I think that with Messi it is more complicated. Obviously, he is one of the greatest of all times and he plays with a great spirit. He’s always dangerous, he’s sharp, his qualities are incredible and for us it’s going to be a good challenge”.
Two Mexican teams are still alive
The Leagues Cup quarterfinals will be contested by six teams from MLS (Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami, Charlotte FC, Nashville SC, Minnesota United and Los Angeles FC) and only two from Liga MX (Querétaro and Monterrey).
This round will start at Subaru Park Stadium, in Chester, Pennsylvania, starting at 20:00 local time (21:00 GMT) between Philadelphia Union and Querétaro.
At Geodis Park stadium, after eliminating America from Mexico in the controversial penalty shootout, Nashville SC will receive Minnesota United at 19:30 local time (21:30). And at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, starting at 7:30 pm local time (9:30 pm), Los Angeles FC will host Monterrey.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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