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Messi brace puts Miami into Leagues Cup final | The Express Tribune
FORT LAUDERDALE:
Lionel Messi scored twice late on as Inter Miami fought back to beat Orlando City 3-1 and reach the final of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.
After missing two straight matches with a right thigh injury, Messi converted a penalty in the 77th minute to pull Inter level at 1-1 then combined with Jordi Alba to put the hosts ahead in the 88th.
Telasco Segovia added a third in injury time as Miami returned to the final of the Leagues Cup, the cross-border competition featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga-MX.
Inter won it in 2023, Messi’s first season in MLS.
They will face reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy or Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s final.
Orlando will play in a third-place game, and the top three finishers in the tournament earn berths in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In a high-energy first half, Croatia’s Marco Pasalic silenced the crowd at Miami’s Chase Stadium with a goal in first-half added time.
Luis Muriel slipped a pass into the area and Maximiliano Falcon’s attempt to clear it instead saw the ball deflect back to Pasalic, who rifled a left-footed shot into the net.
Inter players appealed saying the ball hit Pasalic’s arm but VAR confirmed the goal.
Orlando, who had twice humbled their cross-state rivals this season, continued to stymie Inter in the second half.
Luis Suarez forced a save from Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese while Messi twice threatened in the area only to find himself swamped in a sea of defenders.
Inter coach Javier Mascherano was visibly frustrated as he watched from the stands, having received a red card during the quarter-final win over Tigres UANL.
Orlando lost some momentum in the 59th minute when Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez denied them a penalty shout after Sergio Busquets’ foul on Ivan Angulo.
And the momentum shifted irrevocably Miami’s way in the 74th minute when substitute Tadeo Allende drew a foul in the box.
David Brekalo’s challenge included a tug on Allende’s jersey and earned him a second yellow card.
He departed as Messi went to the spot, the Argentine great firing past Gallese into the lower right corner of the net.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi sparked joyous celebrations with his second goal 11 minutes later.
Orlando had won two prior matches against Miami this season by a combined 7-1 margin, including a 4-1 rout earlier this month.
Whom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists.
Official Sunday inactives begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: look for them around 2:30 p.m. ET for the late-afternoon games.
Refresh often for the latest information.
Darnell Mooney, WR, ATL (hamstring) was ruled out for “Monday Night Football” after not practicing in either week since his Week 4 injury.
Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL (hamstring) will miss at least one more week. The Ravens are on a bye week in Week 7. Cooper Rush gets the start.
Jalen Coker, WR, CAR (Quad) was ruled out after a full practice on Friday, so he may be available in Week 7.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR (calf): Rico Dowdle starts against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL (ankle) still has not practiced since the injury in Week 3.
Miles Sanders, RB, DAL (knee/ankle, IR) was placed on IR after not practicing all week. Jaydon Blue will continue to be the backup for Javonte Williams.
KaVontae Turpin, WR, DAL (foot) has been ruled out after not practicing all week. This will be his second missed game.
Christian Watson, WR, GB (ACL – PUP): The Packers have opened Watson’s practice window, and he will need to be activated within three weeks or be ruled out for the rest of the season. But this is not the week in which he will return.
Spencer Shrader, K, IND (knee, IR) is out for the season with ACL and MCL tears suffered in Week 5 vs. the Raiders.
Brenton Strange, TE, JAC (quadriceps, IR) was injured on Monday night and is expected to be out more than the minimum four weeks.
Brock Bowers, TE, LV (knee) will miss at least one more week. Michael Mayer returns from a concussion and will assume top tight end targets.
Omarion Hampton, RB, LAC (ankle, IR): Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are expected to operate as a committee.
Antonio Gibson, RB, NE (knee, IR) is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 5 vs. the Bills.
Calvin Austin III, WR, PIT (shoulder) is ruled out after not practicing all week. He had 17 targets in four games this season.
Brock Purdy, QB, SF (toe): Mac Jones is expected to start, though he is questionable with a knee injury.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF (knee): The Niners remain thin at wide receiver with Jauan Jennings a game-time decision
Mike Evans, WR, TB (hamstring) has still not practiced, even in limited capacity, since his Week 3 injury.
Chris Godwin Jr., WR, TB (fibula) returned from injury in Week 4 and also played in Week 5 but is back on the shelf for now.
Bucky Irving, RB, TB (shoulder/foot): Rachaad White will be the main ball carrier again this week.
Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS (quad) will miss his third game in a row after being ruled out for “Monday Night Football.”
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Rice Owls cornerback Khary Crump was ejected during the team’s loss against the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday night.
Crump was trying to make a stop on defense with the rest of his teammates when he was seen throwing a punch while in the pile on the field. As the officials tried to break the play up, Crump was seen pushing one official. It led to his ejection.
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Khary Crump #12 of the Rice Owls takes his helmet off after a play during the second half against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Sept. 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
The Houston Christian transfer apologized for his actions in a post on X.
“I apologize Rice nation I let you down,” Crump wrote. “For you guys to open arms and give me another opportunity is all I can ask. My actions this game unacceptable but not ill intent me swinging in the pile was try get the ball out.
“I did not realize that was ref grabbing me until it was done.”
Crump had two tackles before he was kicked out of the game.
He joined Rice as a graduate transfer. The California native started his collegiate career at Arizona before playing one season each at Michigan State and Houston Christian. He had 14 total tackles and six pass breakups this season.
Rice’s Khary Crump reacts to a call during the first half of a football game at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Sept. 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
TENSIONS FLARE IN RED RIVER RIVALRY, SPARKING OKLAHOMA-TEXAS PLAYERS’ PREGAME SCUFFLE
UTSA clobbered Rice, 61-13. Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown had three touchdown passes in the first half. He was 15-of-21 with 236 passing yards in the game. Running back Will Henderson III had 115 rushing yards on five carries and two touchdowns.
Rice’s running attack helped Daelen Alexander record 129 rushing yards and a touchdown in the game.
Houston Cougars running back Stacy Sneed (21) runs with the ball as Rice Owls cornerback Khary Crump (12) attempts to make a tackle during the first quarter at Rice Stadium on Sept. 6, 2025. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
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UTSA improved to 3-3 on the season. Rice fell to 3-4.
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Conventional wisdom — and recent history — suggests small-market teams shouldn’t have success in the postseason. Milwaukee is moving on anyway after eliminating the Cubs.
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