With Inter Miami CF being the top scorers of this summer’s Leagues Cup, it was impossible for new arrival Jordi Alba not to get involved in the action. The former Barcelona left-back, who joined his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in Florida last month, did just that in his team’s semi-final clash against the Philadelphia Union.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s men had already raced to a two-goal lead within 20 minutes at Subaru Park, courtesy of goals from Josef Martínez and then the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Just before the break, the team added a third goal which all but sealed the fate of the match. The in-form Robert Taylor played a through ball for the Catalan left-back, who raced through on goal and confidently finished past a beleaguered Andre Blake. It was a move that encapsulates Alba’s all-action style of play - always eager to venture forward and contribute to the attack, even at his 34 years of age.
The strike was Alba’s first goal since making the move across the pond, the 50th across his entire career, when including club and national team appearances. In his illustrious 11-season spell with the Blaugrana, the full-back would find the net 27 times.
With the Spanish national team - which he now captains, having taken over from Busquets - he has scored nine goals. One of those came in the Euro 2012 final, as he scored the second in a 4-0 rout of Italy. In the upcoming Leagues Cup final, he’ll be hoping to repeat that feat 11 years on and make it a perfect start to his time in North American soccer.
