League Cup 2025: Suarez -Bags brace while Inter Miami Tigres beats in the absence of Messi

Luis Suarez scored a penalty in every half to give Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Tigres Uanl on Wednesday and stepped up to fill the void after Lionel Messi was excluded from the quarterfinals collision of the Leagues Cup.

Messi, who has fought since a «small» muscle injury since a match of the Leagues Cup Group on 2 August, returned on Saturday after a two-week absence and scored a goal after a replacement in a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 38-year-old World Cup winner, however, was excluded against TIGRES as an Inter in the cross-border club competition for teams of Major League Soccer and Liga MX from Mexico.

In a duel that produced few scoring opportunities, Veteran Uruguay striker Suarez was the difference when Inter De Hoop kept alive to recover the title it won in 2023, during the first season of Messi in MLS.

Things waved the way of Miami in the 20th minute when Javier Aquino slid to intercept a cross, and the ball hit his left arm in the area. The referee has awarded the penalty and converted the 38-year-old Suarez.

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Tempers flared up, with Suarez moving to calm things down after Miami teammate Rodrigo de Paul and Uruguayan fellow countryman Fernando Gorriaran exchanged words.

Inter -Coach Javier Mascherano was sent during the break and received a red card for heated protests from civil servants after the injury time was passed by what was indicated.

Mascherano looked from a front row of the stands when Tigres took his equalizer in the 67th minute, Angel Correa slid between two defenders and beat Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.

Another Aquino handball in the 87th minute, confirmed by VAR, gave Miami another penalty, and Suarez converted again, this time left went to left while goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman went in the opposite direction.

Miami’s game with Tiges was one of the four Leagues Cup quarterfinals that were set up on Wednesday. The Toluca of Mexico is confronted with Orlando City before Los Angeles Galaxy Pachuca hosts, while the Seattle Sounders accepts Puebla at home.

There is more at stake than the Leagues Cup trophy.

Both finalists and the winner of third place will qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the Leagues Cup champion direct access to the Champions Cup round of 16.

Published on August 21, 2025