FC Dallas vs Inter Miami score, result as Lionel Messi nets two goals in wild Leagues Cup Round of 16 match

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Simon Borg
• 19 min read
Lionel Messi
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Lionel Messi scored another two goals — that's now 7 goals in his first 4 games — and Inter Miami came back to tie FC Dallas 4-4 and advance on penalty kicks to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals, 

In a thrilling match, Messi and Inter Miami were down 4-2 with 10 minutes to go, but they managed to level things at 4-4 with the equalizer scored by Messi on another majestic free-kick. It was the first time that Inter Miami faced a deficit with Messi, and they found a way through the adversity.

During the penalty shootout, Miami scored on all five of their attempts, while FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal missed to condemn his team to a heartbreaking defeat in a match they looked to have under total control.

Inter Miami's 18-year-old academy product Benja Cremaschi scored during regulation, and then netted the fifth and decisive penalty kick to send Inter Miami into a quarterfinal they will host against either Houston Dynamo or Charlotte FC.

"I think it was a game where FC Dallas played better over the course of about an hour," Inter manager Tata Martino told Apple TV postgame. "In the second half we were set up better and I think it's a show of character because it's tough to come back in a match where the loser goes home.

"[The win] is helpful to believe we can be a good team and that even when we're losing a game, we're capable of coming back."

MORE: Leagues Cup bracket and Round of 16 schedule

FC Dallas vs Inter Miami final score

  Final (PKs) Goal scorers
FC Dallas 4 (3) - Facundo Quignon (Marco Farfan) 37'
- Bernard Kamungo (Jesus Ferreira) 45'
- Alan Velasco 63'
- Own goal (Robert Taylor) 68'
Inter Miami 4 (5) - Lionel Messi (Jordi Alba) 6'
- Benja Cremaschi (Jordi Alba) 65'
- Own goal (Marco Farfan) 80'
- Lionel Messi 85'

Lineups:

FC Dallas (4-3-3, right to left): 30. Paes (GK) — 2. Jesus (22. Twumasi 77'), 25. Ibeagha, 17. Tafari, 4. Farfan — 12. Lletget (19. Pomykal 69'), 5. Quignon, 20. Velasco (16. Ntsabeleng 77') — 77. Kamungo (31. Ansah 58'), 10. Ferreira, 8. Obrian (7. Arriola 59').

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin (19. Robinson 75'), 27. Kryvtsov, 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 3. Arroyo, 5. Busquets, 8. D. Gomez (30. Cremaschi 64') — 10. Messi, 17. J. Martinez (9. Campana 75'), 16. Taylor.

MORE: Inter Miami beginner's guide | Messi's stadium | Club owners | Coach

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are guaranteed entertainment

This match was Inter Miami's first road game with Lionel Messi and the scene at a sold-out Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas was as wild and electric as you'd imagine it to be.

There were many there just to see Lionel Messi, of course, and there were often "Messi, Messi" chants that could be heard with fans wanting to see him do something special. And they got their money's worth, including two assists from Jordi Alba who was making his first start for Inter Miami.

But the home team also came to play and had leads of 3-1 and 4-2, unable to close out the result as Messi willed his team back. The substitutions changed the face of the game, with Dallas taking off their best players to see out the result, while Miami threw more attackers into the game as Benja Cremaschi, Robbie Robinson, and Leo Campana all impacted the match.

Lionel Messi's legend grows at Inter Miami

Everyone knows Lionel Messi is one of the greats, but who saw this kind of start to his time at Inter Miami? Seven goals in four games with a team he's still learning and in a competition he's unfamiliar with.

He may have scored twice against FC Dallas, but he was actually involved on all four of his team's goals.

His curling shot from the top of the box found the back of the net in the 6th minute, though it was only allowed to stand after video review determined that Josef Martinez's offside position didn't block the line of sight of the goalkeeper.

Then Messi's pass to Jordi Alba led to Miami's second, Messi's free-kick caused an own goal for Miami's third, and then his amazing free-kick strike capped a night no one in the sold-out crowd will forget.

Alan Velasco shines for FC Dallas

With the lights shining bright, FC Dallas had their own Argentine playmaker who showed up in a big way with nutmegs, passing, free-kicks, and shots that the supporters in the stadium relished just as much as Messi's touches.

It's little wonder that after the match it's the Dallas 21-year-old who wound up with the coveted Messi jersey.

FC Dallas vs Inter Miami live updates, highlights, commentary

Penalty shootout: Inter Miami advances 5-3 on PKs

  R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
FC Dallas O X O O  
Inter Miami O O O O O

1st Round

  • Inter Miami: Lionel Messi kicks first and scores
  • FC Dallas: Paul Arriola goes down the middle and scores

2nd Round

  • Inter Miami: Sergio Busquets down the middle and scores
  • FC Dallas: Paxton Pomykal fires it over the bar!

3rd Round

  • Inter Miami: The 'keeper doesn't move and Leo Campana easily scores
  • FC Dallas: Facundo Quignon converts inside the right post

4th Round

  • Inter Miami: Left-footed Kamal Miller drills it low to the right and scores
  • FC Dallas: Jesus Ferreira sends the 'keeper the other way and scores

5th Round

  • Inter Miami: Benja Cremaschi scores and Inter Miami win the shootout!
  • FC Dallas: (no kick)

End of Regulation: FC Dallas 4-4 Inter Miami

96th min.: We're heading to penalty kicks to determine who advances to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.

90th min.: Six minutes of stoppage time. Reminder that if we're still tied, it's directly to penalty kicks.

85th min.: Goal Inter Miami! It's another Lionel Messi free-kick masterclass and it's 4-4!

80th min.: Goal Inter Miami! The free-kick ball whipped in by Lionel Messi was so good that FC Dallas defender Marco Farfan heads it into his own goal! The FC Dallas left-back would have had to get out of the way to avoid that one.

77th min.: SUBS FC Dallas. The home team makes the counter-subs and we'll see which team is going to have the leg up in the final 10 minutes.

75th min.: SUBS Inter Miami. Tata Martino is going for it. Leo Campana and Robbie Robinson are into the game. Josef Martinez and DeAndre Yedlin are out and they're going to three defenders in the back.

71st min.: Hydration break.What a wild start to this second half.

68th min.: Goal FC Dallas! Paul Arriola cuts the ball back in the Miami box, and Robert Taylor inadvertently hits the ball into his own net as he came back to try to help defend. Incredible. 4-2 Dallas. It's an own goal and this game is wide open.

65th min.: Goal Inter Miami! Just a minute after coming on it's Benja Cremaschi with the goal! Lionel Messi to Jordi Alba down the left, and his cutback cross from the end line is met with a first-time touch by Cremaschi for the goal by the academy product.

63rd min.: Goal FC Dallas! It's an Alan Velasco set piece into the box and it apparently gets by Miami's 'keeper untouched. It's 3-1 Dallas!

And Alan Velasco is having himself some game:

59th min.: SUBS FC Dallas. The changes are on the wings with Paul Arriola and Eugene Ansah coming in for Obrian and Kamungo.

57th min.: Chance inter Miami! Lionel Messi lays it back to Sergio Busquets who rips a shot that goes high of the bar.

55th min.: Chance FC Dallas! Jesus Ferreira is sprung in behind and he's 1-on-1, but out of nowhere Kamal Miller makes a stunning recovery play to thwart the chance.

It's not been a good five minutes for Jesus Ferreira, who has had the chances but has not been able to convert.

50th min.: Chances FC Dallas! It's Marco Farfan with two separate crosses from the left. First it was Bernard Kamungo with a header and then moments later it was Jesus Ferreira with a point-blank header of his own. But FC Dallas can't take advantage.

48th min.: Chance Inter Miami! Sergio Busquets to Lionel Messi to Diego Gomez, who made a run into the box. But it's a bad attempt from Gomez, who knows he missed a great look. The ball goes wide for a goal kick.

46th min.: Second half is underway and no subs for either team.

Halftime: FC Dallas 2-1 Inter Miami

Halftime: That was a fun half of soccer with the playmakers and attacking trio for each side putting on a show.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino has to worry about his defenders and their ability to bring the ball out, especially because FC Dallas are planning to press them high and try to force turnovers.

"We got the rhythm of the game early, and we can be more aggressive toward goal," FC Dallas coach Nico Estevez told Apple TV at halftime. "Pressing high has been working and we'll continue like this."

FC Dallas are the younger side, and it will be interesting to see how long Inter Miami can keep going at this pace with the game being open and end-to-end in 90-degree weather (Fahrenheit).

45th min.: Goal FC Dallas! A lightning quick transition. Alan Velasco fed Jesus Ferreira who went on a long run, then served it to Bernard Kamungo, who did the rest for a Messi-esque goal. It's 2-1 Dallas!

37th min.: Goal FC Dallas! It's a simple cross by left-back Marco Farfan on the left and central midfielder Facundo Quignon makes the run into the top of the box and hits the first-time shot to beat the Miami 'keeper. It's 1-1. That wasn't a good look for the Inter Miami defenders.

This was Messi's reaction to the FC Dallas goal:

35th min.: Chance Inter Miami! It's the Messi show. Again in transition, he dishes the perfect pass to Robert Taylor on the left and the winger's shot on goal is saved. But the rebound heads back to Messi, who attempts the soft chip shot. Nkosi Tafari clears off the goal line.

32nd min.: Chance Inter Miami! But it's offside. Lionel Messi dished a diagonal pass to Josef Martinez, who was offside. His shot was saved, but the flag also went up.

31st min.: Celebrity watch. Ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is on hand at Toyota Stadium to watch Messi.

26th min.: Hydration break for both teams. And it's a chance for a team talk. Lionel Messi is using the stoppage to sit on the ground as Tata Martino is animated as he talks to his players.

20th min.: It's entertaining, flowing, end-to-end action by both teams. Inter Miami are moving the ball quickly, while the best moves from FC Dallas see playmaker Alan Velasco at the center of the action.

This Velasco nutmeg dribble got the collective 'Oooh' from the home crowd:

16th min.: YELLOW card to FC Dallas defender Nkosi Tafari. He chops down Josef Martinez with a foul from behind near midfield. Yellow is the right decision, but it wasn't worth it for Tafari. It's early to be on a yellow when you're defending Messi.

12th min.: Chance FC Dallas! It's 21-year-old Alan Velasco on a free-kick that just misses the target. It got the fans on their feet.

6th min.: Goal Inter Miami! Lionel Messi scores on a perfectly placed shot from just inside the box. The goal is momentarily disallowed because Josef Martinez is offside and potentially obstructs the goalkeeper.

But the referee goes to the monitor to watch the video and the goal will stand. Josef Martinez got out of the way to the right of the post. It's a good call. That's Messi's sixth goal in four games, and he's scored in every game so far.

5th min.: Lionel Messi pass! It's exquisite, and the FC Dallas fans are chanting "Messi, Messi" just moments later.

4th min.: Goal disallowed for FC Dallas. Another cross into the box, and the first header is stopped by a reflex save from the Miami 'keeper. But Jesus Ferreira was offside when he put home the rebound. It's correctly disallowed.

2nd min.: Chance FC Dallas! Bernard Kamungo on the right wing whips in a wicked cross and Jesus Ferreira applies the glancing header which just finishes wide. Excellent play and a warning shot to Inter Miami.

1st min.: FC Dallas kick off. The home team is in their home kit, and Inter Miami are in their usual pink jersey.

Kickoff

5 minutes before kickoff: Teams are coming out to the field. Kickoff is moments away.

10 minutes before kickoff: If you're a neutral following this game, here's a reason to root for this FC Dallas player to score a goal or two against Messi's Inter Miami.

20 minutes before kickoff: Inter Miami have to run through FC Dallas warmups to get to their side of the field.

30 minutes before kickoff: Starting lineups are out. Two changes for each team from their last match.

This is an interesting observation about the Inter Miami lineup.

40 minutes before kickoff: Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham is on hand for Messi's first road game.

50 minutes before kickoff: It's hot in Dallas, but it's not that much cooler in Miami these days. We'll see if weather is a factor for 36-year-old Messi and 35-year-old Sergio Busquets.

1 hour before kickoff: FC Dallas star forward Jesus Ferreira is aware tonight is a big occasion and he came dressed accordingly.

1 hour, 15 minutes before kickoff: Looks like Toyota Stadium is having a hard time dealing with the Messi crush of fans. We'll see how much of the crowd will be pro-Messi vs. pro-FC Dallas.

Check out how long the line is to get in:

2 hours before kickoff: When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they probably meant Dallas. It's called 'The Big D' for a reason.

FC Dallas vs Inter Miami lineups, team news

There are only a couple of tweaks made by manager Tata Martino to the starting lineup with Jordi Alba making his first start at left-back (for Noah Allen) and Paraguayan national teamer Diego Gomez goes into midfield in place of academy product Benja Cremaschi. 

Christopher McVey is back from serving a red card suspension, though Gregore, Jean Mota, Corentin Jean, Franco Negri, and Ian Fray continue to be long-term absences.

Inter Miami starting lineup (4-3-3): 1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin, 27. Kryvtsov, 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 3. Arroyo, 5. Busquets, 8. D. Gomez — 10. Messi, 17. J. Martinez, 16. Taylor.

Inter Miami subs (12): 99. Jensen (GK), 29. Dos Santos (GK), 4. McVey, 15. Sailor, 32. Allen, 20. Neville, 13. Ulloa, 28. Azcona, 30. Cremaschi, 41. D. Ruiz, 19. R. Robinson, 9. Campana.

FC Dallas will insert left-back Marco Farfan and Sebastian Ibeagha back in the starting lineup. The club recently traded midfielder Edwin Cerrillo to LAFC, but acquired midfielders Liam Fraser and Asier Illarramendi, though the latter is not expected to be available to play in this game.

FC Dallas starting lineup (4-3-3): 30. Paes (GK) — 2. Jesus, 25. Ibeagha, 17. Tafari, 4. Farfan — 12. Lletget, 5. Quignon, 20. Velasco — 77. Kamungo, 10. Ferreira, 8. Obrian.

FC Dallas subs (12): 1. Maurer (GK), 13. Zarzar (GK), 29. Junqua, 3. J. Martinez, 19. Pomykal, 16. Ntsabeleng, 22. Twumasi, 24. Korca, 7. Arriola, 9. J. Jimenez, 11. Sealy, 31. Ansah

How to watch FC Dallas vs Inter Miami live stream

  • Date: Sunday, August 6, 2023
  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. BST (Mon, Aug. 7) / 11:30 a.m. AEST (Mon, Aug. 7)
  • TV Channel: — None —
  • Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

The entirety of the Leagues Cup is being streamed on MLS Season Pass which can be found on Apple TV.

With the MLS season past the halfway mark, Apple has slashed the price on subscriptions for MLS Season Pass, with new users able to jump in at 50 percent off for the rest of the year.

And Apple is going all in on Messi. For Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup matches, MLS Season Pass features “an enhanced production” with “18 cameras, Steadicam, four super slow-motion cameras, Skycam, a drone, sideline reporters in Spanish and English, a dedicated one-hour pregame show on site with features, interviews and expert analysis, and a postgame show to wrap things up.”

Author(s)
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Simon Borg
Simon Borg is a senior editor for football/soccer at The Sporting News.
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Inter Miami
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