Club León pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Leagues Cup. La Fiera defeated Inter Miami 3-2 in a thrilling match and secured its spot in the tournament’s knockout stage, while the Florida team was eliminated from the competition.
The hero of the night was Daniel Arcila, who scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 83rd minute. Juan Pablo Domínguez also found the back of the net to complete a comeback that had seemed unlikely after Miami went into halftime with the lead.
And in the midst of it all was Lionel Messi, who returned to the field after going through one of the most difficult times of his life following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Messi Returns to the Field After His Father’s Death
One of the most emotional moments of the night occurred before the second half began. Messi started the game on the bench and came on for the second half, receiving a standing ovation from the fans at Miami’s Nu Stadium.
It was the Argentine’s first match since the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on Saturday at the age of 68. The Argentine star had previously returned to his home country to be with his family and missed Inter Miami’s 2-1 loss to Monterrey. Before returning to the field, Messi also posted a message dedicated to his father on social media, revealing the difficult personal time he is going through.
Jorge Messi was a key figure in the soccer player’s career. In addition to being his father, he served as his agent and was involved in much of his professional career and business affairs.
That’s why Lionel’s return to the field held special significance.
While Messi waited for his chance on the bench, Inter Miami managed to take the lead. In the 42nd minute, Daniel Pinter scored to make it 1-0 after receiving an assist from Ian Fray. Miami seemed to have the game under control and went into halftime with the lead.
But León had other plans, and the second half completely changed the landscape.
With Messi now on the field, Inter Miami sought to maintain its lead, but León quickly found a way to tie the game. In the 50th minute, Daniel Arcila received the ball in the center of the box and fired a right-footed shot that found the back of the net. The equalizer restored the Mexican team’s confidence and turned the match into a true back-and-forth affair. León capitalized on the momentum and kept attacking.
Just when it looked like the match might end in a draw, Arcila stepped up once more. In the 83rd minute, the forward beat Óscar García and scored the goal that sealed the 3-2 victory.
With that goal, Arcila reached four goals in the tournament, becoming one of León’s most important players during this edition of the Leagues Cup. The Mexican team managed to turn around a match that started with them trailing and ended up celebrating a victory worth its weight in gold.
Inter Miami also found a way to respond in the second half. Yannick Bright scored for the home team, but the effort wasn’t enough to avoid elimination.
The loss was especially painful for the Florida team, which had won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and reached the tournament final last year. This loss also highlights a recurring problem for the Miami team.
For the second consecutive time, Inter Miami let a lead slip away during a Leagues Cup match. The situation was already complicated before the match, as the team was coming off a 2-1 loss to Monterrey and sat in 12th place in the MLS standings.
With only the top four teams in MLS and the top four in Liga MX advancing to the quarterfinals, there was virtually no margin for error.
While Miami prepares for its return to MLS, León is enjoying a completely different situation. La Fiera secured its second consecutive victory in the tournament and, thanks to these results, climbed to first place in the Liga MX standings within the Leagues Cup.
The win over Inter Miami not only meant eliminating one of the competition’s most high-profile teams but also confirmed that León is ready to seriously contend for the title.
