Inter Miami's Leagues Cup Glory Marred by Mascherano's Ejection and Alba's Injury Blow

Inter Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup semifinals following a 2–1 triumph over Tigres, though the victory came at a significant cost.

The evening began with the shocking omission of Lionel Messi from the starting lineup, depriving the Herons of their skipper and top scorer. The Argentine star had re-injured a minor muscle problem and was relegated to spectator status at Chase Stadium.

Luis Suárez rose to the occasion in Messi's absence, converting from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute to put Inter Miami ahead 1–0. However, the situation quickly deteriorated for the home side.

Jordi Alba appeared to suffer a knee injury following an unfortunate collision with teammate Telasco Segovia just before the halftime whistle. The left-back received medical attention on the field but managed to complete the first half despite an obvious limp.

Adding to their troubles, Javier Mascherano received his marching orders as the teams headed to the locker rooms. The Inter Miami head coach engaged in a heated exchange with the referee regarding the amount of stoppage time added to the half, resulting in his dismissal.

The Herons began the second period with their manager now watching alongside their star player from the sidelines. The situation worsened when Alba, who had attempted to continue despite his injury, was unable to carry on and was substituted in the 47th minute.

Despite these setbacks, Inter Miami showed resilience and withstood a late surge from Tigres to claim a 2–1 victory. Suárez sealed the win with another successful spot kick, ensuring his team's Leagues Cup journey continues.

However, the triumph was overshadowed by Alba's injury concerns and Messi's continued absence. With the Leagues Cup semifinals scheduled for just one week away, both players face a race against time to regain full fitness.

Furthermore, Mascherano now confronts a potential suspension due to his touchline conduct, which could leave Inter Miami significantly depleted in the crucial matches ahead.