Lionel Messi Shines in Debut as Inter Miami CF Triumphs Over Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup Match

Jul 21, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Inter Miami CF and forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrate the victory against Cruz Azul at DRV PNK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Lionel Messi had a dream debut in North American soccer with his entry in the second half of the duel against Cruz Azul for the first date of the Leagues Cup that brings together teams from the United States and Mexican soccer. This tournament that lasts just one month will quickly resume activity for Inter Miami led by Argentine Gerardo Martino and it will be with a defining duel.

After the victory against the Mexicans, next Tuesday, July 25, Atlanta United of the United States will host the DRV PNK Stadium in Florida starting at 8:30 p.m. in Argentina (7:30 p.m. in Miami) with the transmission carried out by the Apple TV+ platform.

This contest brings together the franchises of the Mexican League and the United States MLS (which also make up teams from Canada). It began this Friday, July 21, and will have its grand finale on Saturday, August 19. The 47 participants are divided into 15 zones of three teams each, taking into account that Los Angeles FC and Pachuca are automatically classified for the round of 16 as they are the last champions of their respective leagues.

Inter Miami is part of the South 3 group along with Atlanta and Cruz Azul. After these two presentations by the Garzas, that area will be defined next Saturday, July 29 (starting at 8:00 p.m. in Argentina) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia with the duel between the Cement Machine and The Five Stripes.

In other words, within a week it will be known who will be the 30 teams that will advance to the round of 16: the best two from each zone will qualify. Although with this victory in the debut, the franchise that is owned by David Beckham is in the lead and is almost assured of a pass to the next instance.

If Inter Miami continues in the tournament, the first playoff clash will be between Wednesday the 2nd and Friday the 4th of August. His rival, depending on the final position in his zone, will be the winner of the South 2 Group (Orlando City, Houston Dynamo or Santos Laguna) if he qualifies as the leader or the first of the South 4 (FC Dallas, Charlotte FC or Necaxa) if he advances second.

The grid indicates that the round of 16 will be between August 6 and 8, the quarterfinals will be played on the 11th and 12th of that month and the semifinals will be on Tuesday, August 15. The great definition will take place on Saturday 19.

The great detail of this cup that lasts just a month is that the victory will give the winner three points as usual, but the tie in the group stage will result in penalties without extra time: the winner of the round will add two points and the loser one.

At the same time, if two or the three clubs are tied on points in the group stage, the final position in the table will have six criteria to resolve the situation: direct result between the teams, greater goal difference, greater number of goals for, fewer goals against, Fair Play table or a draw to be made by the Organizing Committee.

It is not a minor competition if one takes into account that it will deliver three tickets to the 2024 Concacaf Champions League: the champion will directly enter the round of 16 of that championship while the second and third will go to the initial round.

INTER MIAMI-ATLANTA

Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil: 20.30

Miami (United States), Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia and Paraguay: 7:30 p.m.

Peru, Ecuador and Colombia: 18.30

Mexico: 17.30

Spain: 1.30 (Wednesday 7/26)

TV: Apple TV+

Keep reading:

Lionel Messi’s masterful goal at the last minute to give Inter Miami triumph over Cruz Azul in the Leagues deep hug of Messi and LeBron James minutes from the Inter Miami match: the stars that were in the stages of Lionel Messi phrases after his debut in Inter Miami: The gesture of captain with a youth and the talks with Josef Martínez in the Bank If with his children when he scored the goal and emotion of David Beckham after the triumph over the time
2023-07-22 03:05:28
#Lionel #Messis #Inter #Miami #play #advance #Leagues #Cup