PROGRES.ID – Inter Miami had to swallow a bitter pill with a 2-1 defeat to Houston Dynamo in the 2023 US Open Cup final held on Thursday (28/9) morning WIB at DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The first half of this match belonged to Houston Dynamo, who displayed dominance from the start. They secured a 2-0 lead through goals from Griffin Dorsey in the 24th minute and Amine Bassi in the 33rd minute.
On the other side of the field, Inter Miami tried to mount a comeback in the second half. They created opportunities and managed to score one goal through a header by Josef Martinez in the 92nd minute, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to equalize the score.
This defeat is a heavy blow to Inter Miami as they failed to secure their first-ever US Open Cup championship in the history of the club.
One factor that cannot be ignored in this loss is the absence of Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of this match.
While there was initial hope that Messi could play in the US Open Cup final, unfortunately, that hope didn’t materialize. Inter Miami had to struggle without the contribution of their star player.
Without Messi, Inter Miami appeared to struggle in finding creativity and attacking power in their lineup. They had a tough time breaking down the solid defense displayed by Houston Dynamo.
This defeat clearly illustrates the immense impact Messi has on Inter Miami’s performance. He is not just an ordinary player but one who can make a significant difference on the field.
In the match analysis, Houston Dynamo was highly dominant from the outset, playing at a fast pace and putting pressure on Inter Miami. They capitalized on the mistakes made by their opponents to score valuable goals.
Inter Miami attempted to put up a stronger fight in the second half, and the goal scored by Josef Martinez was evidence of their efforts. However, Houston Dynamo managed to maintain their lead until the end of the game.
This loss not only highlights Messi’s importance to Inter Miami but also serves as a reminder of the strength of Houston Dynamo, who displayed dominance throughout this match. Hopefully, Inter Miami can recover and compete strongly in the future, while Messi is wished a speedy recovery from his injury to continue creating magic on the football field.
