Messi's Miami brings spectacle on the road, eliminates FC Dallas from Leagues Cup

FRISCO, Texas — Lionel Messi did not disappoint on his first away trip with Inter Miami CF.

Scoring an opening goal six minutes in and a match-tying free kick in the 85th minute to complete a two-goal comeback, the Argentine World Cup winner led his side to a 4-4 draw against the home side FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Per Leagues Cup rules, penalty kicks were needed to decide a winner, as Miami sealed its ticket to the quarterfinals with a 5-3 shootout win.

Fans were out in the blazing Texas sun hours before the encounter to be among the first ones into the building to catch a glimpse of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. Tickets sold out in less than half an hour after they went on sale to the general public last Thursday despite starting at $299 and reselling for much higher. Few seats were empty among the 19,096 who may feel they got their money's worth in the eight-goal affair.

Messi had his fans 

A multitude of Messi jerseys were on hand in Frisco with kit variations of Argentina, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, and the growing in popularity Inter Miami CF pink. Fans were ecstatic during pregame warmups at the first sight of MLS' newest marquee star and cheered during his conversions of practiced free kicks and goals. One fan even brought in a pink goat to show affiliation. 

It didn't take long into the match to see Jordi Alba and Messi combine for the opening goal. As comparisons on social media have shown, it was a replica of Messi's iconic strike against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu that ended one of his most iconic celebrations, though this one didn't include the jersey brag.

The sixth-minute goal did have a bit of suspense as VAR was needed to confirm it. FC Dallas fans, which there were plenty of as well, would feel better as the game went on as their team scored three unanswered.

The home supporters would grow frustrated as fouls allowed the visitors to cut the deficit. The thought of seeing Messi score a free kick in person had nearly all fans on their feet in the final stretch, with one attempt ending in a Marco Farfan own goal, and when the 85th-minute strike hit, everyone was in awe.

FC Dallas 'upset' slips away

For a big stretch of the game, it looked as if Dallas would end the Messi arrival celebration and send Inter Miami packing in the Leagues Cup. The supporters' section was rocking with chants of "FC Dallas" and "This is our house" until the inevitable started to happen.

"Obviously, it was a complicated match," said forward Paul Arriola. "We had it. And obviously, with the quality they have all over the field, we can't make mistakes like that, they scored goals to win. And obviously, in penalties it's a different game, it's different. But I think everyone in the locker room knows that we lost it."

It was late in the ending stretch of the first half that Dallas took hold of the game. Midfielder Facundo Quignon converted like a striker inside the box on a cross from the left back Farfan to equalize in the 37th minute. Alan Velasco and Jesus Ferreira were key in a counter-attack that ended with a spectacular goal by Bernard Kamungo just before halftime.

Eighteen minutes into the second half, Velasco extended the lead off a free kick that went untouched and into the back of the net. Certainly, during that stretch of the game, FC Dallas must have had nationwide viewers in shock of what was fermenting.

"I think we did a great job. We are not satisfied with the fact that we ended up losing, because that is the reality," said Alan Velasco. "But we also showed what Dallas has been working on for several years. Today I think we played as equals against Inter Miami, which also has the best player in the world. That is very difficult to achieve, a result like that. And well, it ended up going to penalties, but I think the team did a great job."

A memorable night for all

Velasco ended with Messi's jersey at the end of the night. For Kamungo, who brought a bigger spotlight to his personal story thanks to his goal, it was a surreal moment as he not only scored against one of his childhood idols but also, for the first time, in front of his family.

"I don't even know how to explain it," Kamungo told reporters after the match. "That was literally my first time scoring in front of them, against Messi and Miami, and it was just, I don't know, I almost cried because it's a lot. Then I turned to [his brother]. I just told him that that was for you. Because he did a lot for me to get to where I am right now and I'm just so happy that he got to see me score."

FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez cited the raised level of play due to the occasion. Among the notable players he mentioned were Velasco, Ferreira, Quignon and Farfan.

"Then to have players like him here will make our players better," said Estevez. "Because when you have to face this kind of level, you have to do better and you can see FC Dallas today, how some of our players raise their level higher than other games during the season...I always say it is not that these plays are 'not good', it's about playing more frequently against good, high-level players that make you get better."

So when can FC Dallas fans expect to have a world-class player of their own? Estevez mentions the club's recent signing of former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi could be a good step for the North Texas side to "start initiating bringing these kinds of players" but that the club philosophy remains to grow talent through the pipeline.

"It's all about what kind of project you have in the club and I think Dallas is growing in the right direction," said Estevez. "We have to be proud about how we do things, and not because others do things, we have to do it. We have to do it because we feel like it's the right decision to move in that direction or in a different direction. I think the club has moved from a direction where it was more young players to a roster that is a mix between young players and other players that has that experience, and that can help the team to have games like today. I think we feel confident about what we want to do in this club and the project that we have ahead."