
In an entailing match of the Leagues Cup, the Columbus Crew clinched victory over Inter Miami, 3-2, after having a Messi-less team to qualify to the quarter-finals. Diego Rossi came off the bench to score two goals and bring his team back to level from a 2-0 down, and so the game against New York City FC promised lots of excitement.
Columbus Crew knocks out Inter Miami, the defending champion.
Columbus Crew SC moved to the Leagues Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 3-2 win over Inter Miami on Tuesday. The MLS champions of last season came from a two-goal deficit, courtesy of what can only be described as a scintillating second-half display from their Uruguayan marksman, Diego Rossi.
Inter Miami Strikes First
Going into the match, Messi was unavailable for Inter Miami due to a right ankle problem, Inter Miami initially dominated the match. The Paraguay international midfielder, also named Matias Rojas, scored the opener for Miami in the 10th minute.
Miami saw themselves 1-0 ahead. This lead was doubled in the 62nd minute through Diego Gomez, who put Miami in the lead by two goals, 2-0.
Columbus Crew’s Stunning Comeback
Columbus Crew, however, didn’t lose the spirit of fighting; they had to continue the game. Miami doubled the lead with only 40 minutes remaining, but just five minutes later, US striker Christian Ramirez pulled Crew back to within a goal, 2-1. The initial tide was turned quickly when Diego Rossi came on to make the equalizing goal in the 69th minute making the score 2-2.
Rossi was not done yet. Finally, in the 80th minute, he scored the match-winner, his second goal of the match, and put Crew in the lead 3-2. That amazing come back not only provided Columbus GPL win but also terminated Inter Miami CPL’s bid in the Leagues Cup as they were deposed off their title.
Sturdy Next Challenge for Columbus Crew
By this win, Columbus Crew has booked itself a quarterfinal match against New York City FC, who saw off Tigres 2-1. The next match will take place on Saturday, and, certainly, it will be another rather intriguing game of the tournament.
Other interesting fixtures in the Leagues Cup
Elsewhere in Leagues Cup fixtures, Philadelphia Union edged past Cincinnati 4-2 as Tai Baribo, an Israeli stiker on target twice. The Union will now meet Mazatlan in a quarterfinal clash after Mazatlan won a spot-kick against Cruz Azul.
In as much as Atlanta United was celebrating its win, New York City FC could also boast of their victory, with Santiago Rodriguez securing a goal in the 65th minute against Tigres. Philadelphia played better away, while in Cincinnati for locals, DeAndre Yedlin’s last-gasp equalizer was not enough, as the team conceded two goals and lost the match.
Mazatlan faced a stiff test in Cruz Azul as the latter somehow came from a two-nil scoreboard deficit after the team was reduced to ten men. But in the penalty shootout, Mazatlan came out on top scoring 3 goals to 1 and thus making it to the quarters.
Image source- https://www.arabnews.com/
Upcoming Matches
Toluca and Colorado will battle it out in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals along with San Jose competing with Los Angeles FC. It also remains astonishing as a team tries to earn the right to be called the champion; it’s not easy, with the competition getting stiffer and stiffer with every game.
Conclusion
The Columbus Crew’s win over Inter Miami has put them in a position to make an exciting quarterfinal face-off with New York City FC. It was conspicuous that Lionel Messi was missing from Miami’s list of players, but Miami glanced for the opportunity to progress to the next level in the tournament.
This means that as the Leagues Cup goes on, there will be other equal and juicy football matches and surprises.
More about football
What is the highest cup in football?
The highest cup in football is considered to be the FIFA World Cup. It is an international tournament held every four years. The teams compete to become world champion from around the world.
What is the full form of FIFA?
The full form of FIFA is “Fédération Internationale de Football Association”
What are four types of tournaments?
Four common types of football tournaments are:
- League Tournaments (e.g., English Premier League)
- Knockout Tournaments (e.g., FA Cup)
- Round-Robin Tournaments (e.g., World Cup Group Stage)
- Friendly Tournaments (e.g., Pre-season Cup)
What is FIFA India?
The operations and activities of FIFA within India is referred as FIFA India. It is mostly in collaboration with the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) with the purpose to promote and develop football in the country.
Who is the Indian football king?
The “Indian football king” is Sunil Chhetri
Reference links:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2567351/sport
https://www.dailypostathenian.com/news/national/article_b6535905-cc6e-51ea-893d-8a898df08c70.html
