Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald – Sun Sentinel

Inter Miami, without Messi and Suarez, edged 2-1 by Tigres but advance in Leagues Cup

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 03:10:14 +0000

Both teams had already advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 32 before kickoff, and Inter Miami had secured home field advantage for the next game.

Nevertheless, Miami coach Tata Martino said the Saturday night match in Houston against Mexican power Tigres was a perfect barometer to see how his team measured up with another Cup favorite. He found out that defending the Leagues Cup title will not be easy for his team.

Tigres edged Miami 2-1 to win the group in front of a pro-Tigres crowd of 46,080 at NRG Stadium. These two teams could meet again in the quarterfinals, as they are in the same quarter of the bracket.

To read the full report, click here for miamiherald.com

Messi watches as Inter Miami beats Puebla 2-0 in Leagues Cup opener on goals by Rojas, Suarez

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 04:19:36 +0000

A year after his storybook Inter Miami debut in the inaugural Leagues Cup, Lionel Messi was unable to play Saturday night as his teammates began defense of their trophy with a 2-0 home win against Mexican team Puebla in the 2024 tournament opener.

Messi, who injured an ankle ligament while playing for Argentina in the Copa America final two weeks ago, remained in a protective walking boot and watched the match from a Chase Stadium suite with his wife. He had already missed 13 of Miami’s 25 league games this season.

The men in pink got off to a good start. Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas scored on a left-footed blast in the ninth minute to give Miami an early lead. The assist came from Robert Taylor, who signed a contract extension on Friday. Rookie Yannick Bright got the sequence started with an interception and a pinpoint pass from midfield.

Luis Suarez doubled Miami’s lead at the 72-minute mark. He right-footed a shot from the center of the box off a cross from Jordi Alba. The play began with another interception by Bright at midfield, who passed to Julian Gressel, who sent a diagonal pass to Alba. It was Suarez’s team-leading 13th goal of the season.

To read the full report, click here for miamiherald.com

Luis Suarez finalizing deal to join Messi, Inter Miami as early as December, report says

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 02:58:51 +0000

The Luis Suarez to Inter Miami talks are heating up and the Uruguayan star forward could sign as early as December.

On Wednesday, Spanish newspaper El Pais, which has covered Suarez closely since his days with FC Barcelona, reported that a deal reuniting Suarez with his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba is in the works and could be finalized before the year’s end.

Suarez, 36, said in a previous interview that Inter Miami officials contacted Brazilian club Gremio, where he currently plays, in July, around the time Messi, Busquets and Alba signed, but no deal could be worked on at that time because he was signed through 2024.

To read the full report, click here for miamiherald.com