FLORIDA (UNITED STATES), September 28 (dpa/EP) –
Inter Miami CF has lost the final of the US Open Cup against the Houston Dynamo (1-2) at its DRV PNK Stadium and has been left without the dream of achieving its first cup title, missing the injured Leo Messi too much. and Jordi Alba.
Messi, suffering from an injury from which he ultimately did not recover, was unable to play, nor was Spanish winger Jordi Alba due to a muscle injury, and Houston dominated every aspect of the game from the opening whistle to win the trophy.
With Messi in the VIP boxes, in a meeting attended by the co-owner of Inter Miami David Beckham, the co-owner of the Houston Dynamos James Harden and the former player and coach Zinédine Zidane, the Miami team was overwhelmed and the final 1-2 Josef Martínez achieved in injury time.
After winning the Leagues Cup (in which teams from the United States and Mexico participate) against Nashville SC in August and with 11 goals in their 13 games played, Inter Miami FC was not the same without its great star, Leo Messi who He was left without being eligible for a second title.
The 0-1 was achieved by Griffin Dorsey in the 24th minute with a shot from the right side of the area, after a Dynamo counterattack that began with a missed pass by Inter Miami midfielder Facundo Farias.
The visitors made it 0-2 in the 33rd minute, when Amine Bassi converted a penalty after Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin received a yellow card for bringing down Quinones in the box.
And it could have been 0-3, in the 73rd minute, but Quiñones’ goal was annulled by the VAR for offside. Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s adjustments gave the team some fresh air but Martínez’s goal came too late.
Martínez himself had missed a previous chance in the 56th minute, when he headed a free kick from Farias. Benjamin Cremaschi shot four minutes later, but the ball missed the target.
After this cup defeat, Inter Miami Cf resumes MLS play this Saturday night at home against New York City FC. Miami is five points away from ninth place in the playoffs with five games remaining, so the speedy recovery of Messi and Alba will be key to being in the fight for the title.