Inter Miami’s street to repeating as Leagues Cup champions is something however simple, particularly with out their captain, Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami gained their first ever trophy after they defeated Nashville SC to win the inaugural . The competitors options each and Liga MX facet in a World-Cup type match to crown the very best crew in North America. Nobody may cease Tata Martino’s facet in 2023, and the Herons are hoping to go back-to-back this summer season.
Successful Leagues Cup 2024 has new challenges for the reigning champions, although, that make their street to the ultimate harder than ever earlier than. Inter Miami shall be with out after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner suffered an ankle damage within the Copa America 2024 remaining.
Inter Miami nonetheless have what it takes to win the competitors, however they need to survive a knockout stage filled with powerful opponents, together with the reigning MLS champions, which can be aiming to finish the Herons’ Leagues Cup 2024 marketing campaign.
Inter Miami’s street to repeating as Leagues Cup championsGroup stage recap
Inter Miami may need gained Leagues Cup 2023, however they nonetheless wanted to compete within the competitors’s group stage, not like Columbus Crew and Membership America, who have been each given a bye to the Spherical of 32 because the reigning MLS and Liga MX champions. The Herons have been positioned in East Group 3 together with Puebla and Tigres UANL.
Puebla 0-2 Inter Miami – July 27, 2024
It’s no secret which can be one of many weaker groups within the competitors, and Inter Miami had no concern securing three factors over the Liga MX facet of their first match of the match on July 27. Matias Rojas opened the scoring simply 9 minutes into the sport with a strong left-footed strike, and Luis Suarez doubled the Herons lead within the second half to offer his facet a snug 2-0 victory.
Tigres UANL 2-1 Inter Miami – Aug. 3, 2024
Inter Miami’s second and remaining group stage match introduced a a lot larger problem for the reigning champions. are one of many to win the complete match, and confirmed why on Aug. 3 at NRG Stadium.
Juan Brunetta completed a spectacular volley into the highest nook to offer Tigres the early lead, however Leonardo Campana equalized from the spot within the second half. The Herons seemed content material to depart Houston with at the least some extent, particularly with out Messi and Suarez, however Juan Pablo Vigon discovered the winner for his facet within the 84th minute due to a poor clearance from Serhiy Kryvtsov.
Tigres’ victory secured their end atop East Group 3 with all six factors. Regardless of the 2-1 loss, Inter Miami nonetheless completed in second place and superior to the knockout rounds.
Inter Miami will face Toronto FC, the winners of East Group 6, within the Spherical of 32 on Aug. 8. The 2 sides simply performed each other lower than three weeks in the past within the MLS, and the Herons walked away with a dominant 3-1 victory. The Jap Convention leaders ought to transfer previous the Reds with out many points.
Transferring ahead, the Herons should face a lot tougher competitors in the event that they wish to make it to the . Actually, they are going to doubtless meet the reigning MLS champions, , within the Spherical of 16, so long as the Crew defeat Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
Tata Martino’s facet may face a possible rematch with Tigres within the quarter-finals so long as each groups make it that far. The Liga MX facet could have a neater street; they’d solely should beat CF Pachuca and the winner of NYCFC and New England Revolution.
Inter Miami’s opponents within the semi-finals are a bit tougher to foretell, however the probably situations result in the reigning Leagues Cup champions dealing with off towards Cincinnati or Cruz Azul. The Orange and Blue simply throttled the Herons 6-1 within the MLS on July 6, and would purpose for the same outcome to ship the Herons dwelling.
If Inter Miami can as soon as once more go on a run at Leagues Cup and safe their spot within the remaining, they might meet both LAFC or Membership America, two of essentially the most harmful groups in the complete competitors.
The street to repeating as champions begins on Aug. 8, when Inter Miami tackle Toronto FC.