Inter Miami opened its Leagues Cup campaign with drama from the first whistle to the last. Playing at DRV PNK Stadium, the team edged Atlas FC 2-1 in a match that was only decided in stoppage time. Telasco Segovia struck first, Rivaldo Lozano leveled for the Mexican side, and Marcelo Weigandt scored the late winner to secure three crucial points in the opening stage of the tournament. Lionel Messi provided both assists, while goalkeeper Ríos Novo came up big with key saves.
Balanced first half with chances on both ends
Inter Miami started aggressively and created early opportunities. Just seven minutes in, Telasco Segovia got a shot off from the middle of the box. It deflected off a defender and skimmed just over the crossbar. In the 22nd minute, Messi sent a long pass to Allende, who crossed from the right for a shot that the Atlas goalkeeper managed to keep out.
Atlas responded and nearly broke the deadlock at 25 minutes. Eduardo Aguirre connected with a strong header that forced Ríos Novo into an acrobatic save to keep the score level. Late in the half, Luis Suárez came close to producing a highlight-reel goal. In the 48th minute, the forward struck a clean volley from inside the box that rattled the crossbar. The first half ended 0-0, reflecting a game that was open, intense, and well-balanced.
Messi factor and a stoppage-time winner
The second half kept the pace high, and Inter Miami stayed on the front foot. Suárez fired from outside the box in the 48th minute, drawing another solid save from the Atlas keeper. Two minutes later, Ríos Novo was called into action again to deny Uros Djurdjevic from the left side of the area.
The breakthrough finally came in the 57th minute. Busquets slipped a precise pass into space for Messi on the left wing. The No. 10 calmly squared the ball into the middle, where Segovia finished first-time to make it 1-0, scoring his ninth goal for Inter Miami.
Atlas found an equalizer in the 80th minute through Rivaldo Lozano, setting up a tense finish. Moments later, Suárez had a great chance to restore the lead, but the goalkeeper came up with another important save.
When the game seemed destined for a draw, Inter Miami delivered the winner. Deep into stoppage time, in the 51st minute of the second half, Messi combined with Suárez and drove into the box. He laid the ball off for Marcelo Weigandt, who finished from close range to seal the victory. It was the fullback’s second goal of the season and Messi’s 12th assist in 2025.
The night also brought milestones for two players. Rodrigo De Paul made his Inter Miami debut, while Benjamin Cremaschi reached 100 appearances for the first team, becoming the first homegrown player to achieve that mark in club history.