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Club León secured a 3-2 victory over Inter Miami on Wednesday to advance to the Leagues Cup knockout stage, with Daniel Arcila providing the decisive second-half performance that propelled the Mexican club forward. Arcila netted the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute to complete a two-goal night as León mounted a dramatic comeback from a one-goal deficit entering the second half.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi made his competitive return after traveling to Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge, who passed away Saturday at age 68. The star midfielder took the field at the start of the second half, earning an emotional ovation from the crowd at Miami’s Nu Stadium. His appearance marked his first match since posting an emotional tribute on social media Wednesday, expressing uncertainty about his future in the sport.
Inter Miami fell behind early when Daniel Pinter scored in the 42nd minute with an assist from Ian Fray. However, León’s three-goal second-half barrage proved too much, with Arcila striking in the 50th minute before Juan Pablo Domínguez added another. Yannick Bright scored for Inter Miami, but it proved insufficient as the Herons suffered their second consecutive blown second-half lead.
The loss eliminates Inter Miami from contention after the club won the tournament in 2023 and reached last year’s final. León, having won its first two matches, now stands atop the Liga MX standings heading into the quarterfinals. Only the top four MLS clubs and top four Liga MX teams will advance from this stage.
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