Inter Miami - Necaxa Ends in 2-2 Draw: Messi Injured Early, Miami Wins Penalty Shootout
Inter Miami - Necaxa: Thriller Ends 2-2, Messi Injured, Miami Win on Penalties
The Leagues Cup clash between Inter Miami and Mexican club Necaxa ended in dramatic fashion on Friday night, August 2, 2025. Played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, followed by Inter Miami winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
But the biggest story was an early injury to Lionel Messi, who was forced off the pitch just 10 minutes into the match due to a suspected hamstring issue, sparking concern among fans and teammates.
⚽ First Half Drama: Goals and a Red Card
Inter Miami started brightly, with Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia putting the home side ahead in the 12th minute. However, just five minutes later, their momentum was shaken as defender Maximiliano Falcón received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, reducing Miami to 10 men.
Necaxa capitalized on their advantage when Tomás Badaloni equalized in the 33rd minute with a close-range finish.
The first half also saw Messi limping off in the 10th minute after grabbing his left leg. Early reports suggest a hamstring concern, but a full medical update is still pending.
🔁 Second Half: Late Drama and Equalizer
Despite being down a man, Inter Miami held their ground and even threatened to regain the lead. Necaxa themselves went down to 10 men in the 59th minute after Cristian Calderón was sent off with a second yellow card, evening the numbers.
Late in the game, Ricardo Monreal gave Necaxa a surprising 2-1 lead in the 81st minute. But Inter Miami struck back with a dramatic equalizer from Jordi Alba in injury time (90+2'), sending the match to penalties.
🎯 Penalty Shootout: Miami Holds Nerve
Under Leagues Cup rules, drawn matches go straight to a penalty shootout, with the winner earning two points and the loser one point.
Inter Miami converted all five of their penalties with perfect precision. Necaxa, however, missed one crucial shot, resulting in a 5-4 penalty win for the MLS side.
While penalty scorers were not all officially listed, Miami's calm execution under pressure gave them the edge and an extra point in the group standings.
📊 Final Result:
- Inter Miami 2 – 2 Necaxa
- Goals: Segovia 12', Alba 90+2' (MIA); Badaloni 33', Monreal 81' (NEC)
- Red Cards:
- Falcón (MIA) 17′
- Calderón (NEC) 59′
- Penalty Shootout: Inter Miami win 5-4
🗣️ What’s Next?
Despite losing Messi early, Inter Miami showed grit and resilience. They now sit on 5 points in the group stage and await the final group standings to determine their next opponent.
Fans across the U.S. will be watching closely for updates on Messi’s condition, with hopes that the Argentine icon returns soon to lead Inter Miami’s continued Leagues Cup journey.
Meta Description: Inter Miami vs Necaxa ends 2-2 in a thrilling Leagues Cup match. Messi exits early due to injury. Miami secures extra point after penalty shootout win.
Tags: #InterMiami #Necaxa #LeaguesCup2025 #MessiInjury #PenaltyShootout #MLSvsLigaMX #SoccerUSA #FootballNews
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