File picture of Lionel Messi© AFP
Lionel Messi shrugged off sub-zero temperatures to attain the one purpose as Inter Miami defeated Sporting Kansas City 1-0 of their weather-delayed CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg conflict on Wednesday. Messi struck within the 56th minute at Children’s Mercy Park, exhibiting excellent particular person ability earlier than rifling a low angled shot previous Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp. The victory offers Inter a valuable away purpose as they try and safe their passage into the final 16 in subsequent Tuesday’s second leg in Florida. Wednesday’s sport in Kansas City had been postponed by 24 hours after an arctic storm dumped a number of inches of snow throughout the area whereas sending temperatures plummeting to near-record lows.
Despite the rescheduling there was no let-up from the freezing situations, with the temperature at kick-off plunging to minus 17 levels Celsius (one diploma Fahrenheit).
Un derechazo de Messi nos da la ventajapic.twitter.com/0gqsN7JjO2
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 20, 2025
Argentine celebrity Messi and his Inter team-mates took to the sector sporting gloves and neck heaters, with a number of gamers on each groups sporting full-length leggings to fight the chilly.
Kansas City completed close to the foot of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference final season, profitable simply eight of their 34 regular-season video games — in stark distinction to Miami, who topped the Eastern Conference with a report 74 factors after profitable 22 video games.
Miami’s technical superiority was evident for lengthy durations of the primary half, Luis Suarez going near opening the scoring within the eighth minute with a shot that curled simply huge of the put up.
Suarez went shut once more after 35 minutes, his shot from the sting of the realm whistling simply huge of the put up.
The breakthrough for Miami lastly got here early within the second half.
Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets floated a cross-field cross into the realm which discovered the Argentine playmaker.
The 37-year-old celebrity managed the ball on his chest earlier than a superb contact took him huge of Kansas City midfielder Erik Thommy, creating house for a low shot throughout purpose into the far nook.
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