Inter Miami fall against CF Monterrey in Leagues Cup Phase One matchup
Miami, Aug 9
Inter Miami CF fell 1-2 against CF Monterrey in their second Leagues Cup 2026 Phase One matchup. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored the team's goal at Nu Stadium.
Inter Miami came close to opening the scoring with a triple opportunity in the 14th minute. First, an effort from Delinois from the left end of the box was saved by Monterrey's goalkeeper, before a left-footed hit from Allen and Delinois' second attempt were blocked by the opposition's backline.
Inter Miami broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, with De Paul receiving a pass from Casemiro in the final third before unleashing a right-footed hit from long range to the bottom-left corner.
Goalkeeper Ríos Novo had a notable intervention at the other end in the first minute of stoppage time to preserve Inter Miami's lead entering the half, with a save to deny a shot from Orbelín Pineda from the center of the box.
Monterrey turned the scoring around with two second-half goals, with Hugo Cuypers scoring in the 47th minute and Diego Rossi in the 90th minute.
With the loss, Miami face an uphill climb to reach the knockout stage, despite a convincing 4-2 midweek win over Atlético San Luis in their tournament opener. Only the fop four teams per league table advance to the quarterfinals.
The Herons will host Club Leon on Wednesday in their Phase One finale.
Lionel Messi's status for the match is unknown. He is reportedly home in Argentina with his family.
Leagues Cup 2026 will award three qualification spots to the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher will qualify, with the tournament champion earning a direct place in the Round of 16.
The Concacaf Champions Cup serves as the pathway to FIFA international club competitions, providing clubs the opportunity to represent Concacaf on the global stage.
— IANS
Reader Comments
No Messi, no party! 😐 Everyone knows Inter Miami is a completely different team without him. I don't blame the squad though — they were up against a strong Mexican side. The Leagues Cup is really showing the gap between MLS and Liga MX teams. As someone who watches both leagues, Monterrey's experience showed in that second half.
Was at Nu Stadium for this one (I'm in Miami for work). The atmosphere was electric in the first half, especially after De Paul's long-range stunner — what a goal! But you could feel the momentum shift after halftime. Monterrey just stepped up their pressing game. Miami's coach needs to make better tactical adjustments during breaks. This is a learning moment for Tata's boys.
I have been following football since the ISL started back home in India, and honestly, Miami should have managed this better. They had a 1-0 lead at halftime and created good chances early on. But conceding two goals in the second half — and a last-minute one at 90' — shows major fitness or concentration issues. The Club Leon game on Wednesday is a must-win now. 🙏
Honestly, people need to stop obsessing over Messi's absence. This is Leagues Cup — it's about building squad depth and giving younger players minutes. Casemiro and De Paul linked well in the first half, and Delinois was lively. But the defense needs a proper reset. Also, can we talk about how wasteful Miami was with those three chances in the 14th minute? Solid opener from San Luis, but this loss is a reality check. 🇮🇳⚽
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