Leagues Cup quarterfinals: Inter Miami went up against Tigres UANL at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 20, in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. It was a tight, closely-fought game where Miami pulled off a 1-0 win to book their spot in the semifinals.
Tigres struck first in the 23rd minute when Luis Suárez converted a penalty, giving the Mexican side an early lead. Miami, however, didn’t lose focus. They kept pressing and were rewarded in the 54th minute with an equaliser that fired up the home crowd.
From that moment, both sides went full throttle. Tigres tried to dictate the pace with calm and plenty of possession, while Miami hit back with quick breaks and non-stop pressing to keep the pressure on.
Messi’s absence felt but team rallies
The centre of attraction of the night was Lionel Messi’s absence, sidelined with a minor muscle injury.
Miami showed resilience and proved they could rise to the occasion as a collective. Their defense tightened up after the penalty and they didn’t allow Tigres another goal.
Messi is likely to be back in Inter Miami’s squad for their important quarterfinal match against Tigres UANL in the 2025 Leagues Cup. Miami is looking to take revenge on the Mexican side after losing 2-1 to them in the group stage of last year’s tournament.
Team effort seals semifinal spot
At the end of the match, Miami’s discipline and teamwork made the difference. The result not only pushed them into the semifinals but also highlighted how competitive MLS and Liga MX have become against each other.
The match added another layer of exciting moments to the Leagues Cup, a tournament already known for drama, goals and fierce rivalries.
Inter Miami heads into Wednesday’s game after a 3-1 win over LA Galaxy last weekend. Jordi Alba scored the opener, and late goals from captain Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez sealed the club’s first-ever victory against the defending MLS Cup champions.
Messi also reached a milestone with his goal, becoming the second-fastest player in MLS history to score 40 career goals, achieving the feat in just 44 games. Only Josef Martínez did it quicker, in 42 matches.