In a dramatic Leagues Cup showdown that saw Inter Miami emerge victorious in a penalty shootout against Necaxa, the celebration was tempered by the early departure of superstar Lionel Messi due to injury.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, was forced to limp off the field under his own power in the 11th minute of the match. While no immediate cause was given, initial observations suggested a potential hamstring strain, casting a shadow over his continued participation in the tournament.

Adding to Inter Miami’s early woes, Maximiliano Falcon was issued a red card in the 17th minute for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, leaving his team playing with ten men for a significant portion of the first half. Necaxa capitalized on the numerical advantage when Badaloni netted his third tournament goal in the 33rd minute.

The dynamics shifted again in the 60th minute when Cristian Calderon of Necaxa received his second yellow card, evening the numbers on the field and setting the stage for a more balanced contest in the final half-hour.

The match exploded with late action as Ricardo Montreal put Necaxa ahead once more after the 80th minute, only for Jordi Alba to swiftly respond for Inter Miami, leveling the score at 2-2 and forcing a tension-filled penalty shootout.

Inter Miami ultimately secured a hard-fought 5-4 penalty shootout victory against Necaxa, concluding a match filled with twists and turns, showcasing resilience despite key setbacks including Messi’s injury and early ejections.

Earlier in the Leagues Cup action, Orlando City also secured a crucial win, defeating visiting Atlas in a match that boosted their hopes of advancing to the knockout phase while eliminating their opponents.

Martin Ojeda scored the decisive goal for Orlando City in the 57th minute, with Ivan Angulo opening the scoring and Marco Pasalic adding late insurance, culminating in a 3-1 victory for Orlando and highlighting a compelling night of soccer.