Inter Miami CF wrapped up their Leagues Cup 2024 group stage with a 2-1 loss against Tigres UANL at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. The match saw Leonardo Campana score the lone goal for Inter Miami, tying him with former player Gonzalo Higuaín as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 29 goals.
In terms of lineup, Inter Miami made three changes from their previous match against Club Puebla. Drake Callender returned in goal, while Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, David Martínez, and Jordi Alba formed the defensive line. Matías Rojas, Yannick Bright, and Federico Redondo started in midfield, with Julian Gressel and Robert Taylor supporting Campana in attack.
The game started off evenly, with both teams looking to break the deadlock. However, Tigres took the lead in the 18th minute through a goal from Juan Brunetta. Despite Inter Miami’s efforts, the score remained 1-0 in favor of Tigres at halftime.
In the second half, Inter Miami pushed forward and were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute after Campana was fouled in the box. Campana converted the penalty with a cool finish to level the score at 1-1. This goal not only marked Campana’s first in the Leagues Cup 2024 but also tied him with Higuaín as the club’s top scorer.
Unfortunately, Tigres regained the lead in the 84th minute with a goal from Juan Pablo Vigón, securing a 2-1 victory. Despite the loss, Inter Miami finished second in Group East 3 and will now prepare to defend their Leagues Cup title in the Round of 32 against either CF Pachuca or Toronto FC at Chase Stadium on August 8.
Looking at the stats from the game, Inter Miami had the upper hand in possession with 53.4% compared to Tigres’ 46.6%. Both teams had an equal number of shots at 9 each, but Tigres managed to convert their chances. Tigres also had more saves (4) compared to Inter Miami (1), while Inter Miami won the corner count with 7 to Tigres’ 2. Both teams committed 14 fouls each during the match.
Overall, despite the defeat, Inter Miami showed fighting spirit and determination, and will be looking to bounce back in the next stage of the competition. Stay tuned for more updates on their Leagues Cup campaign as they aim to make a mark in the tournament once again.
