Sports

Messi-less Inter Miami tops Sporting Kansas City 3-2.

Published

1 week ago

September 14, 2023

Coach, Cary Levinson

Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory without Messi sets DRV Pnk Stadium ablaze.

September 9th, 2023

In a thrilling matchup, Inter Miami CF managed to secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City, despite missing their superstar Lionel Messi, who was among the eight Miami players absent due to national team duties. The match drew an impressive crowd of nearly 20,000 passionate fans.

Ever since the arrival of Messi, Inter Miami has been on an incredible run of 11 unbeaten games, showing their resilience and depth in the squad. However, on this night Messi was one of eight Miami players missing for national team duty including teammates: Edison Azcona, Benjamin Cremaschi, Diego Gomez, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Josef Martinez, David Ruiz and Robert Taylor. The early stages of the game proved challenging for Miami as Sporting Kansas City dominated possession, consistently winning the 50/50 balls.

The scoring action began in the 9th minute when Dániel Sallói of Sporting Kansas City unleashed a right-footed shot from the center of the box, finding the bottom right corner of the net. But Inter Miami quickly responded in the 25th minute when Leonardo Campana equalized with a well-taken penalty, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. The penalty was awarded after Campana was brought down by Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.

As halftime approached, Campana struck again, this time with a beautiful header from close range, capitalizing on an excellent cross from the stand-in captain DeAndre Yedlin. The first half concluded with Inter Miami CF leading 2-1.

The second half witnessed a dramatic turn of events in the 60th minute. While Kansas City players were engaged in a heated argument with referee Ismael Elfath over a handball decision and the subsequent restart, Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets took matters into his own hands. He quickly initiated the restart, catching the Kansas City players off guard. Busquets launched a long ball to Facundo Farias, who beat the goalkeeper with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, extending Inter Miami’s lead with an impressive display of awareness and initiative.

Sporting Kansas City mounted a late comeback attempt in the 78th minute when Alan Pulido fired a right-footed shot from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner, narrowing the gap to just one goal. Erik Thommy provided the crucial assist for the goal.

Despite a few desperate attempts by Sporting Kansas City in the dying moments of the game, Inter Miami CF held on to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory, gaining valuable ground in their push for a playoff spot. The absence of Messi did not deter them from delivering an exciting and memorable performance for their fans.

Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider
Inter Miami CF defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-2 at DRV Pnk Stadium. ©South Florida Insider