A historic Leagues Cup 2023 round of 16 showdown on Sunday night saw Inter Miami CF come out on top against FC Dallas on penalties, after coming back from behind to clinch a 4-4 draw in regulation time.
The Florida outfit were inevitably led by Lionel Messi, who reached seven goals in the tournament overall after opening the scoring and then scoring a late equalizer from a free-kick.
But he wasn’t the only Argentine to score on the night, which saw three of his compatriots find the net in a match-up which saw some of the very best Albiceleste talent in North American soccer take center stage.
While Messi would once again open the scoring early on, this time with a familiar combination down the left with Jordi Alba, it was Facundo Quignón who equalized for the hosts before the break.
The 30-year-old, who has been with FC Dallas since 2021, had previously turned out for formative club San Lorenzo as well as Lanús before making the move to MLS. Last night’s strike was the defensive midfielder’s second of the campaign, already equalling his career-best total over a season.
FC Dallas would then take the lead on the stroke of half-time through Bernard Kamungo, before another Argentine in Alan Velasco would double the advantage with a long-range free-kick that trickled through the defense. The 21-year-old, now in his second season with the Texas outfit, is now on four goals for the season overall.
It was another young Albiceleste prospect that scored next, as the Miami-born midfielder Benjamín Cremaschi halved the deficit for his hometown team from another cutback by Alba. The 18-year-old had previously spoken of his pride at playing alongside the Argentinian World Cup hero, and was now sharing the scoresheet with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Although Dallas would go into the final five minutes with the lead, it was Lionel Messi who invariably had the last word. For the second time in this Leagues Cup 2023, the forward scored a late long-range free-kick to salvage the game for his team. While his first came in the curtain-raiser against Cruz Azul to win the game, this time he managed to force the last 16 tie to a penalty shoot-out, which Inter Miami would win. It was only fitting, of course, that Cremaschi scored the winning spot-kick.
Even though it was the Florida outfit who went through in the end, the 4-4 draw was a special night for Argentines in North American soccer - an event which was epitomized at the end of the match, Velasco and Messi exchanged shirts. Only the latter advances in Leagues Cup, though - will he go all the way?
