FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Inter Miami CF advanced to the semifinal of the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament after a dramatic 2-1 wni over Tigres on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium.
Despite playing without its captain and star Lionel Messi, who sat out the game due to an ongoing muscular injury, the 2023 Leagues Cup champions qualified to the next round.
Miami took the early lead after receiving a penalty for a handball by Tigres defender Javier Aquino inside the box. Luis Surez stepped up to the spot and nailed the shot past Tigres goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman.
The Herons then suffered a setback in the first half when Jordi Alba picked up a knock after accidentally clashing with teammate Telasco Segovia on the pitch. Though the defender played through the injury at first, he limped off the field at halftime before being substituted off for the second 45 of the match.
Before the second half kicked off, head coach Javier Mascherano received a red card, forcing him away from the sidelines. Immediately after being expelled, the Inter Miami manager went directly into the VIP seats above the club bench, while his assistant coach Leandro Stillitano took over on the sidelines.
According to tournament rules, a manager that receives a red card may go watch the rest of the match from the stands but cannot give any sort of instructions or influence the match.
Despite Leagues Cup regulations, Mascherano began to voice instructions and yell from the Chase Stadium stands before being asked to stop.
Television footage later showed Mascherano on the phone with assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez Pagano talking about the game.
As the game progressed, Tigres began to take control of possession and managed a goal in the 67th minute with a strike from new summer signing and Messi's Argentina teammate ngel Correa. But the draw didn't last long, after a second hand ball inside the Tigres area earned Inter Miami another penalty.
Again, Suarez stepped up to nail the strike into the back of the net.
Inter Miami will now prepare to face the winner of the series between Orlando City and Liga MX side Toluca.
