Kathmandu: When Lionel Messi’s exceptional performance kept going, Inter Miami defeated FC Dallas in a penalty shootout and advanced to the quarterfinals of the League Cup.
In the competitive match held on Monday morning, after the stipulated time ended in a 4-4 draw, the game went to a penalty shootout.
Messi, who had scored two goals during the designated time, also scored the first goal for his team in the penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Messi along with Sergio Busquets, Leonardo Campana, Kamal Miller, and Benjamin Kremser scored for Miami.
For FC Dallas, only Paul Arriola, Facundo Quignon, and Jesus Ferreira managed to score goals. Paxton Pomykal couldn’t score.
Messi won a penalty shootout for the first time in his club career. Prior to this, while playing for Barcelona, he had not participated in the 2020-21 Spanish Super Cup when his team reached the penalty shootout stage.
In the face of a 4-3 situation against FC Dallas, Messi scored a stunning goal from a free-kick in the 84th minute to equalize the game. After Inter Miami scored two goals, the situation was reversed.
In the 68th minute, Miami’s Messi scored a goal, bringing the game back. However, in the 68th minute, Robert Thiel’s own goal gave FC Dallas a 4-2 lead.
Then, in the 80th minute, Dallas’ Mark Farfan also scored an own goal, narrowing the goal difference for Inter Miami, and in the 85th minute, Messi equalized with a fantastic free-kick goal.
Inter Miami will now face Houston Dynamo FC and Charlotte FC winners in the quarterfinals.