Inter Miami reached the semifinals as Luis Suárez scored twice from the penalty spot in the absence of Lionel Messi, who missed the match due to a recurring muscle injury.
The signs were there even before kickoff, and they proved right — Messi’s muscle issue ruled him out again. Things got even more dramatic midway through the match when coach Javier Mascherano was sent off with a red card after arguing with the referee over stoppage time. Cameras later caught him using his phone from the stands to give instructions, sparking controversy, as league rules prohibit any coaching communication after a red card.
Despite the chaos, Suárez’s brace sealed a 2-1 win for Miami over Mexico’s Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. Both goals came from penalties awarded after Xavier Aquino handled the ball twice — once in the first half and again near the end.
This marks Miami’s second appearance in the last four of the tournament in three seasons. They previously won the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023.
Playing without Messi, Miami struggled for control and creativity. Tigres dominated possession with 60%, but they couldn’t make it count. Miami, meanwhile, relied heavily on their penalties to stay ahead.
The first breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Suárez converted the opening penalty. Soon after, Miami suffered another setback as Jordi Alba picked up an injury following a collision with teammate Telasco Segovia. He limped off at halftime and didn’t return.
In the 67th minute, Ángel Correa leveled the score for Tigres with a composed finish past the keeper. But just before full-time, another Aquino handball handed Miami a lifeline. Suárez calmly slotted home his second penalty in the 89th minute, putting Miami back in front.
Tigres came agonizingly close to forcing extra time when Iván López’s header hit both posts in quick succession, but the ball stayed out, sealing Miami’s win.
Up next, Inter Miami face a tough semifinal against Orlando City — a team that beat them twice in the MLS this season, scoring seven goals against Messi’s side.
