🏆 Messi-less Inter Miami suffer cup final defeat | OneFootball

Without Leo Messi, Inter Miami fell to Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup Final.

Scorers: Martínez 90+1′ ; Dorsey 24′, Bassi (P) 33′

Miami were under the cosh from the off. The in-form Dynamo pinned the home side into their own half, probing for chances.

The hosts’ first shot attempt came with just three minutes left in the first half, but Tata Martino’s men were already 2-0 after a rocket from Griffin Dorsey and a Amine Bassi goal from the penalty-spot.

Seemingly all on his own, Sergio Busquets failed to keep the Houston midfield at bay and was overrun on a number of occasions.

Miami pushed in to claw their way back into the final in the second half, but the absence of Leo Messi was evident going forward.

Houston would not escape without a final twist however, as Josef Martínez cut the lead in half in stoppage time to reignite DRV PNK Stadium.

Fortunately for the Dynamo, the Venezuelan’s strike would be all the hosts could muster in the dying moments, and the Texas side held on to collect the trophy for the second time in club history.