Inter Miami triumphs over Orlando City 3-1 in the Leagues Cup semis, with star player Lionel Messi netting two goals for the winning team.
Inter Miami Claim Leagues Cup Title in Thrilling Final Against Seattle Sounders
Inter Miami FC emerged victorious in the 2022 Leagues Cup Final, securing a hard-fought 3-1 victory against Seattle Sounders. The tournament's final match will be played on Sunday.
Lionel Messi, making his return for Inter Miami, scored twice in the game, with assists from Jordi Alba and Telasco Segovia. The first goal came from a penalty kick, awarded after Tadeo Allende was pulled down in the box.
Messi's second goal, scored in the 88th minute, was reminiscent of the first, with Segovia providing the assist. The third and final goal for Inter Miami was a team effort, with Luis Suarez involved in the play.
Seattle Sounders qualified for the final by defeating LA Galaxy 2-0, but could not match Inter Miami's offensive prowess. Orlando City, who advanced to the semifinals by beating Orlando City 3-1, faced a tough challenge.
The game was not without its controversies. Orlando City defender David Brekalo was shown a red card, and his first yellow card was questioned by Orlando City coach Óscar Pareja, who felt it was unwarranted as Brekalo did not touch the player (Rodrigo De Paul). In total, there were nine yellow cards and one red card given in the game.
Inter Miami's head coach, Javier Mascherano, served his red-card suspension during the semifinal, with assistant coach Javier Morale taking the reins. Despite this, Inter Miami managed to secure a place in the final.
Morale expressed his excitement about the opportunity to win a trophy, while Mascherano will return to the coaching seat for the final against Seattle Sounders.
In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that Mascherano will also be the coach for Inter Miami in the 2025 Leagues Cup final. The team will aim to defend their title and continue their winning streak.
Marco Pasalic scored for Orlando City just before halftime, but the goal was allowed after a VAR review. Despite a valiant effort, Orlando City could not prevent Inter Miami from claiming the Leagues Cup title.
The 2022 Leagues Cup Final promises to be an exciting match, with Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders ready to battle it out for the trophy.
