INTER MIAMI AND LIONEL MESSI RALLY TO DEFEAT FC DALLAS IN SHOOTOUTS

Inter Miami overcame a pair of two-goal deficits to square the score at 4-4 by the end of regulation against FC Dallas on Sunday night in Frisco, Texas, thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi for his new team. Inter Miami then proceeded to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on penalties.

Prior to the arrival of the Argentine World Cup winner last month, Miami had lost all 11 of its league games. Messi also assisted Benjamin Cremaschi’s goal for Miami.

Messi has made all four of his appearances for Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup, a competition that puts MLS and Liga MX teams against one another. In two weeks, the regular season will restart.

In a 5-4 tiebreak that went in Miami’s favor, Cremaschi also netted the game-winning penalty kick. Miami will now face the winner of Monday’s game between the Houston Dynamo and Charlotte FC.

Dallas scored three goals, building leads of 3-1 and 4-2 before relinquishing control of the game thanks to goals from Facundo Quignon, Bernard Kamungo, and Alan Velasco. Only Paxton Pomykal missed a penalty, sending FC Dallas’ second attempt over the crossbar.

Dallas became the only team to keep Miami to even a tie over 90 minutes since Messi made his tournament debut in the group stage, despite the team’s elimination.

After receiving a cross from Jordi Alba, Messi scored Miami’s opening goal in the sixth minute with a left-footed first-time finish from the edge of the penalty box.

Because of striker Josef Martinez’s position during the play, officials first declared the goal to be offside. Referee Cesar Ramos overturned that decision following a video review, finding that Martinez had not interfered with goalkeeper Maarten Paes’ ability to save the ball.

Before Messi’s curling free kick shot into the top right corner past Paes’ dive, Miami benefited from an own goal after Dallas turned the game around and finally took a 4-2 lead.

Similar to Messi’s first goal for the Herons, which he scored off of another dead ball to secure a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul during the tournament’s group stage, it was evocative of that play.