The Houston Dynamo defeated Inter Miami 2-1 to win the US Open Cup on Wednesday at DRV PNK Stadium, with an injured Lionel Messi watching from the stands.
Miami struggled to cope with an enterprising Houston without Messi and his old Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba and had little to complain about the outcome.
Miami co-owner David Beckham, who watched the game with former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane, was hoping for another night of celebration after his club’s League Cup victory last month.
However, Miami lacked enthusiasm and creativity as they were outplayed by Ben Olsen’s outstanding Houston club.
No clear explanation has been given for Messi’s injury with references to “muscle fatigue” followed by talk from coach Gerardo Martino of “scars” from an old injury.
The World Cup-winner was withdrawn in the first half of the MLS win over Toronto last week and sat out Sunday’s draw at Orlando City.
Inter Miami have failed to win in their last three games that Lionel Messi missed through injury ❌ 😅 pic.twitter.com/3TWGrI1Acg
— 433 (@433) September 28, 2023
How The Match Progressed
With no Messi to worry about, Houston were on top from the outset, moving the ball around with confidence and purpose while Miami with Sergio Busquets the only one of their trio of ex-Barca players on the field, struggled to get a foothold in the game.
Drake Callender was forced into a double save when Nelson Quinones drove towards the far post, the Miami keeper pushing the ball out and then doing well to get his legs to the follow up from Corey Bair.
But Houston grabbed the lead in the 24th minute with a perfect counter-attack ending with Brazilian Artur feeding the overlapping Griffin Dorsey who blasted in at the near post.
Houston were utterly dominant, passing the ball with a swiftness that left Miami chasing shadows and it wasn’t long before they had doubled their advantage.
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Martinez gave Miami some late hope with a left-foot strike in stoppage time after latching on to a ball from Argentine Facundo Farias.
But it was too little, too late from Miami and Houston deservedly won their second U.S. Open Cup to add to their triumph in 2018.
Miami had won the Leagues Cup last month with Messi prominently involved but they must now battle to make the Major League Soccer play-offs with uncertainty over their Argentine star’s fitness.
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