New Delhi: Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi scored a brilliant finish at the 56th against Sporting KC during CONCACAF Champions Cup’s first leg game at Children’s Mercy Park Stadium, in Kansas. Sergio Busquets played a brilliant aerial ball the Inter Miami captain, who was waiting inside the box.
The Argentinian caught the ball with a brilliant first touch before dribbling past his marker and going across the goal to play a low-angled shot from the right side past Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp. Both teams scrambled to find a grip on the hard and slick field for most of the game.
Un derechazo de Messi nos da la ventaja 🐐✨pic.twitter.com/0gqsN7JjO2
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 20, 2025
Sporting KC tried to stay the offensive after Messi’s goal in their desperate attempt to draw a game where Inter had 60% possession. However, Oscar Ustari was able to thwart both of the shots taken on the goal by Sporting in the second half. Their best effort was from Daniel Salloi who found some open space behind Miami’s defense line but Ustari ensured that Messi’s goal wasn’t cancelled.
Sporting KC try cancel Lionel Messi’s efforts
Erik Thommy attempted to tie in the 78th minute to hit the left post although Salloi was offside and it would have been ruled out. The Herons’ lead would have come much earlier when Luis Suarez came close to breaking the deadlock but his shot from inside the box went wide. Inter Miami again missed a close chance when Tadeo Allende’s shot in the 33rd minute went wide from Messi’s pass.
Sporting then missed the chance to take the lead three minutes later but Dany Rosero’s header wasn’t able to bring the desired result. Taking a 1-0 away win means Inter will be in the lead as they try to secure themselves a final 16 spot in the competition in the second leg in Florida.
The game had already been postponed by a day after an arctic storm had ended with 3-5 inches of snow with the temperatures going as down as -28C on Tuesday. There were even rumours that Messi might not play in the game due to harsh weather conditions but Heron’s manager Javier Mascherano had confirmed that the Argentinian will be available for the game.
Lionel Messi scores a stunning goal in freezing conditions as Inter Miami win 1-0 against Sporting KC in the first leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup’s clash at Children’s Mercy Park Stadium, Kansas. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
