Inter Miami fell 2-1 to Rayados de Monterrey on Saturday night during the second matchday of the Leagues Cup group stage at Nu Stadium, playing without captain Lionel Messi, who traveled to Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. According to reports from Infobae and Proceso, Monterrey secured the victory courtesy of a 90th-minute goal by Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi, overcoming an initial first-half deficit.
Emotional Pre-Match Tributes in Miami
The match was played under a somber atmosphere following the passing of Jorge Messi earlier that morning. According to Infobae, a minute of silence was observed across the entire stadium prior to kickoff, and Inter Miami players wore black armbands. In the 10th minute, supporters unfurled a banner reading “Fuerza, Leo” to support their absent star. Inter Miami had earlier released a statement expressing condolences on social media, while Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber issued a public statement honoring Jorge Messi’s memory and strength.
First-Half Action and De Paul’s Tribute
Inter Miami nearly opened the scoring early on through a sequence involving a triple chance that included a notable save by Monterrey goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas and two goal-line clearances, as reported by Infobae. Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia also missed a close-range opportunity in the 19th minute following a counterattack initiated by Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul, wearing the captain’s armband in Messi’s absence, broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a low, long-range strike from 25 meters that beat the goalkeeper to the left post, according to Proceso. During his celebration, De Paul briefly lifted his number 7 jersey to reveal a number 10 Messi shirt underneath, earning a yellow card from referee Bryan Hamed López Castellanos.
Monterrey’s Second-Half Comeback
Coached by Matías Almeyda, Monterrey responded immediately after halftime. In the 47th minute, Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers tapped in from close range after an initial header by Lucas Ocampos and a save by Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo, as detailed by Infobae. The visitors completed the comeback in the 90th minute when Rossi—acquired on July 3 from the Columbus Crew—scored the decisive goal to seal the 2-1 result.
The match also featured an early substitution for Monterrey when defender Carlos Salcedo left the pitch due to an injury in the 15th minute and was replaced by Jorge Rodríguez, according to Proceso.
Standings Context and Next Fixtures
With the result, both Inter Miami and Monterrey sit at 1-1-0 with three points in the group stage standings. Inter Miami won the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023 and reached the final last year, but faces an uphill battle to advance out of the group stage.
Both clubs will conclude group play on Wednesday. Inter Miami is scheduled to host León, while Monterrey will travel to face Nashville, according to Proceso.
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