Inter Miami confirmed the League Cup semi-final with a straight win over Lionel Messi’s magic. Messi scored in five consecutive matches. As a result, Miami reached the semifinals for the first time by beating Charlotte FC 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
Miami dominated Charlotte from the start of the match at home on Saturday. From the battle for possession to shots on goal, Miami dominated throughout the match. Messi had 63 percent of the ball. Charlotte, on the other hand, was in a very sullen mood. An example of which is found at the end of 10 minutes of the match. Charlotte’s Harrison fouled Miami’s Ario in their D box. And Miami gets a penalty. Joseph Martinez put the team ahead in the twelfth minute of the match through a spot kick. Robert Taylor doubled the lead in the 32nd minute. There were no more goals before the end of the first half.
From the beginning of the second half, Charlotte made a desperate attempt to return the match. Despite some great attacks, Miami’s goaltending kept the team safe. In between, the opposite happens. In the 78th minute, while blocking Messi’s shot from the D box, Charlotte’s Allison Malanda put it into their own net. And with that, the gap was reduced to 3-0. Missed two consecutive chances to score but it didn’t take long for Messi to find the back of the net. He put the final nail in Charlotte’s coffin in the 86th minute. And that’s the first time his team is in the final of the Leagues Cup with a big win.
Dhaka Times / 12 August / ES