Miami, 17 September (H.S.): Lionel Messi’s goal and assist helped Inter Miami defeat Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday to win the Campeones Cup title for the first time. The match is contested between the champions of Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.

The victory marked Inter Miami’s first Campeones Cup title. It was also the first match in charge for the team’s new head coach, Cristian “Kily” González.

Messi put Inter Miami ahead with a superb header. The diminutive Argentine star rose above Willer Ditta to meet Luis Suárez’s cross and produced a brilliant header that found the back of the net.

Messi then attempted to score a second goal himself. Moving forward after receiving a pass from Suárez, he put the ball into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

However, Messi played a key role in Inter Miami’s second goal moments later. He delivered a superb corner into the box, which Casemiro converted with a header to extend Inter Miami’s lead to 2-0.

This was the eighth edition of the Campeones Cup, which is hosted each year by a Major League Soccer club. Before Inter Miami’s triumph, Mexican teams had won the title in the previous three editions.

Mexican giants Cruz Azul have yet to win the Campeones Cup. The team also suffered defeat in the 2021 final.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar