Inter Miami secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, advancing to the semifinals of the 2025 Leagues Cup. The Herons prevailed without their captain Lionel Messi, who missed the clash due to a lingering muscle injury, while veteran striker Luis Suarez stepped up with two decisive penalties.

Suarez Steps Up as Messi Sits Out

Messi’s absence was a major setback for Miami, but Suarez carried the team with composure under pressure. His first penalty came in the 20th minute after Tigres defender Javier Aquino was penalized for a handball inside the box. Suarez confidently converted past Nahuel Guzmán to give Miami the lead.

The Uruguayan veteran struck again in the 89th minute, this time after another Aquino handball confirmed by VAR. Once more, Suarez outwitted Guzmán, sealing Miami’s place in the final four.

Luis Suarez penalties secure Inter Miami win vs Tigres in Leagues Cup quarterfinal

Mascherano Sent Off in Heated Clash

Tensions rose just before halftime when Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano was shown a red card for protesting extended stoppage time. He was forced to watch the remainder of the match from the stands, where television cameras later captured him attempting to communicate with his staff via phone.

Tournament officials confirmed that Mascherano could face a suspension of up to three matches for breaching sideline restrictions after dismissal.

Assistant coach Leandro Stillitano took charge for the second half, while Javi Morales addressed media afterward: “We argued about the time added on, and Javier got a red card. It wasn’t clear, but the referee made his decision. We just had to keep focused on the game.”

Injuries and Equalizer Test Miami’s Resilience

Inter Miami suffered another setback when defender Jordi Alba, who had clashed with teammate Telasco Segovia, limped off at halftime with a leg injury. The club confirmed his condition will be assessed in the coming days.

Tigres grew into the game in the second half and equalized in the 67th minute through Argentine forward Ángel Correa, who slipped past two defenders before firing past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. The goal briefly swung momentum in Tigres’ favor, but Miami held their ground and struck late to regain control.

A last-gasp header from Tigres forward Edgar López rattled both posts in stoppage time, but the Herons survived the scare to clinch the win.

Next Stop: Florida Derby Semifinal

With the victory, Inter Miami will now face Florida rivals Orlando City in the semifinals. Orlando advanced after a dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout win over Toluca, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese both saving two penalties and scoring the decisive kick. Earlier this month, Orlando beat Miami 4-1 in an MLS clash where Messi was also absent.

The stakes are high beyond state bragging rights. According to tournament rules, both Leagues Cup finalists and the third-place winner will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the tournament champion earning a direct spot in the round of 16.