Inter Miami secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup on March 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match took place without star player Lionel Messi, who was sidelined due to injury. Despite the absence of their captain, Miami managed to advance to the semifinals for the second time in three years.
Luis Suarez was instrumental in Miami’s win, scoring both goals from the penalty spot. His second goal, which clinched the victory, came in the 89th minute after a video review by referee Mario Escobar led to a penalty decision against Tigres defender Javier Aquino for a handball. This penalty was set up by Aquino’s earlier foul that allowed Suarez to open the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Tigres responded in the second half, with Angel Correa equalizing in the 67th minute. The match remained tense, especially in stoppage time when Ivan Lopez nearly tied the game again. His header struck both goalposts but ultimately stayed out, sealing the win for Miami.
Compounding Miami’s challenges, manager Javier Mascherano was sent off at halftime. Following his ejection, Mascherano was observed communicating with his coaching staff from the stands, a move that violates league rules for coaches shown a red card.
Orlando City Advances to Semifinals
In the other quarterfinal match, Orlando City progressed to the semifinals after a dramatic penalty shootout against Toluca, which ended 0-0 after regulation time. Orlando’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made crucial saves, denying both Nicolas Castro and Juan Pablo Dominguez, while also stepping up to convert the decisive penalty that secured Orlando’s win.
The match was characterized by missed opportunities, with Toluca outshooting Orlando 15-4 throughout the game. Despite their dominance in terms of shots, Toluca could not find the back of the net. Orlando’s only significant chance came from a header by Rodrigo Schlegel, forcing Toluca’s Luis Garcia into his sole save of the match.
Orlando City and Inter Miami are now set to face each other in the semifinals, a highly anticipated clash given that Orlando has won both of their regular-season encounters this year, outscoring Miami by an aggregate of 7-1.
As the tournament continues, both teams will look to capitalize on their recent performances as they vie for a shot at the Leagues Cup title.