FC Dallas and Inter Miami: A Rivalry Born in the Leagues Cup

FC Dallas and Inter Miami CF are two of the most exciting teams in Major League Soccer, but their rivalry goes beyond the league. The two clubs have faced each other four times in the past two years, and each match has been a thrilling spectacle of goals, drama, and controversy. 

The most memorable encounter was the Leagues Cup Round of 16 match on August 6, 2023, which ended in a 4-4 draw and a penalty shootout that saw Inter Miami advance and eventually win the inaugural competition.

The Leagues Cup Classic

The Leagues Cup is a tournament that pits MLS teams against Liga MX teams in a knockout format. The 2023 edition featured eight teams from each league, and the draw paired FC Dallas with Inter Miami in the first round. The match was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, and it was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish.

Inter Miami took the lead in the 12th minute, when Lionel Messi, who had joined the club as a designated player in 2022, curled a free kick into the top corner. FC Dallas equalized in the 28th minute, when Ricardo Pepi headed in a cross from Ryan Hollingshead. The home team then went ahead in the 37th minute, when Paxton Pomykal scored from close range after a scramble in the box.

The second half was even more dramatic, as Inter Miami scored three goals in 15 minutes to turn the game around. Messi scored his second goal in the 51st minute, when he dribbled past two defenders and slotted the ball past the keeper. Rodolfo Pizarro made it 3-2 in the 59th minute, when he pounced on a rebound from a Messi shot. Gonzalo Higuaín added a fourth goal in the 66th minute, when he volleyed in a cross from Lewis Morgan.

FC Dallas did not give up, and they staged a remarkable comeback in the final 10 minutes. Jesús Ferreira scored in the 80th minute, when he tapped in a cross from Franco Jara. Bryan Acosta scored in the 86th minute, when he blasted a long-range shot into the bottom corner. Reto Ziegler scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, when he converted a penalty after Leandro González Pírez fouled Ema Twumasi in the box.

The match went to a penalty shootout, and Inter Miami prevailed 5-4. Messi, Higuaín, Pizarro, Morgan, and Blaise Matuidi scored for the visitors, while Pepi, Ferreira, Ziegler, and Andrés Ricaurte scored for the hosts. The decisive moment came when John McCarthy saved Tanner Tessmann’s spot kick, sending Inter Miami to the quarterfinals.

The Aftermath

The match was hailed as one of the best in the history of the Leagues Cup, and it sparked a fierce rivalry between FC Dallas and Inter Miami. The two teams met again in the 2023 MLS regular season, and they played out a 1-1 draw at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi scored for Inter Miami, while Pepi scored for FC Dallas.

Inter Miami went on to win the Leagues Cup, beating Cruz Azul 2-1 in the final. Messi was named the MVP of the tournament, scoring six goals and providing four assists in four games. FC Dallas finished third in the Western Conference, and reached the conference semifinals, where they lost to Seattle Sounders.

The two teams met again in the 2024 preseason, playing a friendly at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas on January 22, 2024. The match was part of the preparations for the 2024 MLS season, and it attracted a crowd of over 50,000 fans. FC Dallas won the match 2-0, with goals from Kalil ElMedkhar and Nkosi Burgess.

The rivalry between FC Dallas and Inter Miami is one of the most intriguing in MLS, and it is likely to produce more memorable matches in the future.

The two teams have contrasting styles, star players, and fan bases, and they always bring out the best in each other. The Leagues Cup classic of 2023 was the catalyst for this rivalry, and it will always be remembered as a landmark game in North American soccer.