Inter Miami began their effort to defend for the Leagues Cup championship through a 2-0 loss to Mexico’s Puebla on Saturday, even though Lionel Messi, their main player was not able to play since he was sidelined.
Miami’s opponent Matias Rojas of Paraguay started their scoring in the first half, in the ninth minute of the game. Much later in the 72nd minute, Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan, goal-pushed Miami over the top with another goal.
The Argentine playmaker was perhaps Miami’s key player in their victory in the Leagues Cup last year but is nursing a left ankle injury he aggravated two weeks ago during the Copa America qualifier match against Colombia. This injury has also seen him lose two of Miami’s MLS regular seasons and the MLS All-Star Game match.
MLS has a Cup event in which it pairs with Liga MX in Mexico and files like the World Cup system. The teams are clustered in groups of three teams where the first two teams in each group progress to the next stage known as the knockout stage. Their next match in the group stage will be against the Mexican team Tigres the next Saturday.
Other group-stage matches played on Saturday were Houston which was defeated by Atlas from Mexico 1-0, Mazatlan lost to New England 1-0, Charlotte lost to Philadelphia 1-0, and Toronto and New York Red Bulls played to a goalless draw but Toronto advanced on penalties 5-4.
New England’s goal came with 11 minutes remaining in the game when US midfielder Jack Panayotou got it past the keeper. Tai Baribo, an Israel forward, can be credited for Philadelphia’s goal, which came at thirty-three minutes into the match while Jose Lozano, a Mexican defender, got Atlas’ winning goal at eighty-three minutes.