Inter Miami CF vs. Cruz Azul | Campeones Cup | Full Match Highlights

Back in the starting eleven with Suarez and Messi Yes he is and his work rate is incredible, you look at Messi and they play with a real sense of freedom and the reason they play with a real sense of freedom is because the player you just mentioned, Lira He has not managed since October and his dismissal at Platense in Argentina Here we go, underway, Cruz Azul starts and plays across to Rodolfo Rotondi the Argentine will see a lot of Lionel Messi on that near side of the field at the start, three centre back alignment at New Stadium The computer has them as the favourite tonight on their home ground as Rotondi plays back I think one of the problems they've had in MLS so far you look at their home form, they've conceded first in seven of the twelve games You don't want to have to keep coming back Yes they've got the quality and they've got the ability going forward but you put yourself at a disservice when you are conceding first Switch to the right, Charlie Rodriguez Palamasino goes out wide This is Lira, beats his man one on one, Lira with the ball played in and a shot repelled, it's behind the net They'll be looking at Caicedo He plays like a centre back, he needs to be further out It's actually Marquez, the right wing but just goes past Caicedo far too easy then he cuts it back It's a really good cut back as well This is the referee's view as Paradella takes the strike He has so many plays, he's one of those players that a lot of people new to the game will say okay, well yeah he does a good role, he picks the ball and he passes it but the forward thinking players they will absolutely adore him because he allows them to go and express themselves out of the pitch For me, one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS Rodriguez ahead Palamasino trying to find another gear, blows past De Paul, this ball takes a deflection, Rodriguez has this for Cruz Azul Switch to the far side, taken here Angel Marquez Good across, taken out of midair First one, then the rest have to follow, so he's being really lenient at the moment, and I like that, I like that from a referee He understands what's on the game, he understands at the tempo that it's been played at and he's just letting things go but at some point, if it starts to get out of hand then he will have to get control, but at the moment I like the way he's refereeing the game Who's the keeper from behind, CONCACAF Champions Cup title in 2025, one that concluded with that clean sheet against Vancouver, named the best goalkeeper of the competition as well Rodrigo De Paul finds Moura and plays it ahead The edge of the 18, Suarez works it across, and there's the opener for Lionel Messi in an Inter-Miami uniform Aaron's strike first in Campione's Cup 8 foot 7 as good in the air as you're gonna find that Messi can't do, one of the smallest players on the field, but I love his movement, it's just he understands, ok, the ball is going to his teammate Suarez, Suarez knows exactly where Messi's gonna be, and then this run up there is only gonna be one winner he's coming up against Dita, a physical center half, probably giving him an extra few inches, it doesn't matter because he makes that run and when he makes the run, there's only one player that's gonna win it, and it's Messi, and you'll see Suarez at times drift out to the right hand side just like we saw for the goal, which is set up for Messi, so then at times Bertrami then goes into the center forward position himself so he's doing a lot of unselfish work, so Ubers can go and shine, but, as you're quite right to say, he needs a goal, I don't think he's scored in the last 7 Messi, with a beautiful ball delivered off the chest, Suarez cleared off the line ah, headed it over the bar and it's out for a corner and you see Bertrami going over to Suarez now to give him a hug, because he knows that Suarez was trying to find him but just watch the movement once again, it's absolutely outstanding, Suarez is in an offside position he tries to scoop it up towards Bertrami oh, and the direction it was going at Bertrami was never ever gonna get it you and I will not watch men's fillies together Bertrami lost control, cleared out to the middle of the park take it here, Charlie Rodriguez tackled away in the open field, no, it's a foul against Galarza, and there's the first booking now, it took better than 40 minutes, Galarza is cautioned yeah, and I think that's the referee, he starts to see challenges flying in, start to go out, a little bit out of control now, is that the worst challenge of the evening from Galarza? No, but I think the referee had got to the point where it was gonna be, and we see the ref come here it was going to be the next foul, because the referee's probably in his innocence, and I just think it was gonna be the next foul that was gonna be the first yellow card of the game Rodriguez for Palavicino, he's feeling it and Sinclair up for the challenge parries it over the bar and one thing you say about Palavicino he is known to have an incredible strike from outside the box, the man of the hour as he's been so many times in his illustrious career, and we'll tee you up for the start of the second half as Miami playing back for Yannick Bright, and one of the big themes here in the final 45 minutes, Miami's inability to close out games in which they've had a lead, they've failed to win Rodriguez now Garcia for Dita, a lot of game left, Rodriguez and the captain Eric Aguilera, a marvelous World Cup he had for Mexico Dita Marquez gives it a go easy picking for Dean Sinclair but once again you look at Cruz Azul when they're attacking, they're very narrow, they're not really gaining much width they're aggressive now, Palavicino lost control at the top of the box, foul is going against Cruz Azul here Scalarza is the foul out wide, he comes out of the scrum with it, plays ahead quickly, now Suarez going over the top, Messi to get on this, Lionel Messi racing ahead there's number 2, and 1-0 1 for the career, the flag does go up and the celebration curtails how close was it? it's the correct decision, definitely the correct decision, the assistant referee doesn't put his flag up but you can see, Suarez plays the ball, Messi's just gone a little bit too early but it's a perfect line from the back three, don't think it was ever going to be, absolutely perfect back spin on it, never going to go out of play Mozo off the butt of Paradella Casemiro with the necessary intervention now that's what they're trying to do and it's one substitute to the other, the right wing back Mozo plays the ball in for Fernandez and it's a really good header, there's nothing that Sinclair can do about it some stoppage time after that, Lionel Messi swings this ball out, there's number 2 the all important insurance goal and who else? Casemiro, 4th time he's put it in off the head, enter Miami, can see a light at the end of the tunnel, up by 2 81st minute in position to win Campeones Cup now there's a new aerial boss in town his name, Casemiro they've been warned time and time again, there's plenty of tape on him doing this, but go ahead and try and stop him, it's his ability to lose a marker at the last second on what a header it is as well he heads it down, he gives the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever and when he meets it with his head it needs to happen quickly now for Cruz Azul they'll work it to the top of the box wins the free kick and the time is now for La Maquina, yellow card out of the pocket of the referee I believe that shot was booked it was booked it'll be Padela, save made St. Clair hasn't had to answer the call a lot, mixed up there he sees it all the way really a take away by Messi deep in the attacking area the final seconds here new coach new stadium, new trophy won, enter Miami your 2026 Campeones Cup champions