Inter Miami started the new 2025 season with the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 against Sporting Kansas City (Sporting KC).
Despite the temperature of -17 degrees Celsius, Inter Miami still took the initiative while Sporting KC only knew how to defend and find a way to counter Messi’s danger.
In the 8th minute, Messi passed the Sporting KC defense, but unfortunately Suarez missed the ball when facing goalkeeper Pulskamp. In the 35th minute, Suarez skillfully handled the ball and then launched a beautiful curling shot that went wide of the post. The first half ended without any goals scored.
However, right at the beginning of the second half, Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Sergio Busquets made a delicate pass into the penalty area, Messi controlled the ball neatly with his chest, then skillfully turned the ball before shooting diagonally, giving Sporting KC goalkeeper Pulskamp no chance to block.
This goal relieved the pressure on the home team and made the match more exciting. Sporting KC then rushed forward to attack in search of an equalizer. In the 63rd minute, Davis made a favorable pass for Salloi to run down and face goalkeeper Ustari, but he finished too weakly.
In the remaining time of the match, the two teams played tit for tat but there were no more goals. In the end, Inter Miami won 1-0. This was an important victory that helped the Florida team maintain the advantage before the second leg at home.
Sporting KC vs Inter Miami match lineup
Sporting KC: Pulskamp, Davis, Voloder, Rosero (Manu Garcia 46′), Leibold (Joaquin Fernandez 62′), Memo Rodriguez (Ndenbe 62′), Radoja, Bartlett, Thommy, Salloi (Agada 83′), Joveljic (Afrifa 62′)
Inter Miami: Ustari, Weigandt, Lujan, Aviles, Allen, Allende (Cremaschi 73′), Busquets, Redondo, Segovia (Picault 79′), Messi, Suarez (Robert Taylor 89′)