With seven goals in his first four games for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has lit the Leagues Cup on fire, exploding onto the scene in the United States since joining earlier this summer.
Messi’s introduction to life in the U.S. has been nothing short of electric, scoring late winners and equalizers, bagging ridiculous free-kicks, bringing teammates into the attack, and dazzling crowds to remind everyone how much fun it can be to be the greatest player of all-time.
With Inter Miami now into the quarterfinals, Charlotte FC is the next to draw Messi & Friends. The Argentine played his first road game of his Inter Miami career last time out in the incredible Round of 16 penalty shootout victory over FC Dallas, but they’re back home again in Ft. Lauderdale to welcome their MLS opponents.
The winner of this match between the 12th- and 15th-placed teams in the MLS Eastern Conference will take on the winner of the Philadelphia Union vs. Queretaro quarterfinal.
The Sporting News is following the Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Inter Miami vs Charlotte live score
Score (1H)
Goal scorers
Inter Miami
0
–
Charlotte FC
0
–
Starting lineups:
Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 2. Yedlin, 27. Kryvtsov, 31. Miller, 18. Alba — 3. Arroyo, 5. Busquets, 30. Cremaschi — 10. Messi, 17. J. Martinez, 16. Taylor.
Charlotte FC (4-1-4-1, right to left): 1. Kahlina (GK) — 24. Lindsey, 29. Malanda, 34. Privett, 25. Afful — 8. Westwood — 15. Bender, 37. Arfield, 13. Bronico, 7. Jozwiak — 11. Swiderski.
Inter Miami vs Charlotte live updates, highlights, commentary
Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC: First Half
8th min: Charlotte FC’s early possessional impetus is gone and Inter Miami are now starting to dominate on the ball. They’ve held 61 percent possession throughout this Leagues Cup, and at times it’s been even more overwhelming than that.
5th min: Chance, Inter Miami! That’s the magic of this attack! There’s an opportunity in front of goal as the ball is filtered in from the left, with Jordi Alba setting it up for Josef Martinez in front of goal, but Andrew Privett makes a necessary sliding intervention to concede the corner.
Getting in the box and creating chances early on in the match 👏 pic.twitter.com/RLF8JiqOA5
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 12, 2023
4th min: Charlotte FC has started the match well. They are having to work hard to keep the ball, but have forced Inter Miami to do a lot of chasing early while they knock the ball around. They’re doing well to maintain possession under pressure.
Of course, just as I type that, Lionel Messi snatches the ball away in midfield and immediately springs Josef Martinez down the left. Martinez’s first touch is a bit sloppy and he can’t set the chance up in front of goal right.
Kickoff: The match is under way from Ft. Lauderdale! The MLS broadcast has billed this as « David vs. Goliath » which is notable because Inter Miami, the perceived Goliath of the matchup, is last in the Eastern Conference standings. But they have yet to see Lionel Messi take the field in MLS play, where all that can change. For now, the small sample size proves they are the clear favorite in this quarterfinal game.
The Argentine has scored his seven goals on just 3.4 xG so far through four Leagues Cup games. World-class finishing matters! What else does Messi have in store?
Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the 2023 Leagues Cup thanks to his seven goals for Inter Miami.
Of course he is. pic.twitter.com/jrNpiM1tRR
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) August 7, 2023
Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more
5 mins to kick: The winner of this match takes on the winner of Philadelphia Union vs. Queretaro, and in classic MLS fashion, the start of that match (scheduled for 8 p.m. ET) has been delayed due to power outages.
Subaru Park and the surrounding area are currently experiencing power outage. We are currently working with officials to resolve the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) August 12, 2023
15 mins to kick: The MLS social accounts are leaning into the whole « script writing » thing. What do you want to see in tonight’s script?
T-5 hours until @LeaguesCup chaos begins…
The script writers have been at work. 🤫 Drop your predictions below.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 11, 2023
30 mins to kick: No opposing manager has yet figured out how to stop Lionel Messi, and tonight it’s Christian Lattanzio’s turn to give it a go. He’s come up with an interesting plan, based on the lineups — Kamil Jozwiak, usually a right winger, has shifted over to the left, according to Charlotte FC’s lineup graphic.
Jozwiak is a winger with an extremely high defensive work rate, ranking in the top 15th percentile amongst MLS wingers in tackles, (91st), blocks (89th), clearances (88th), and aerial duels (85th) according to FBRef. To cover for Jozwiak’s flank, Ben Bender gets a rare start out wide, which is slightly out of position for the 22-year-old, who’s usually more of a central No. 8/No. 10 hybrid. That leaves Justin Meram and Kerwin Vargas on the bench, so Lattanzio is sacrificing some attacking impetus. We’ll see how it works!
Is Kamil Jozwiak an answer to the age-old Lionel Messi question?
He’s a mediocre winger from a creative standpoint, but he has a very high defensive volume. Proficient at tackles, blocks, clearances, aerials.
High, high work rate, esp vs dribblers 👀 pic.twitter.com/1QUAt0bgyd
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) August 11, 2023
45 mins to kick: Lineups are finally out. It’s business as usual for Inter Miami, as Lionel Messi starts with his buddies Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The only change for Tata Martino is Benji Cremaschi, as expected, returns to midfield.
For Charlotte FC, head coach Christian Lattanzio has pulled a bit of a fast one, starting young Ben Bender in a wide midfield role in place of both regulars Justin Meram and Kerwin Vargas, while Kamil Jozwiak is swapped from his usual role on the right over to the left flank.
Tonight’s Starting XI vs Charlotte FC#MIAvCLT | 8:30PM ET | 📺#MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/53kSEx9fVq
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 11, 2023
1 hour to kick: While we wait for lineups to be posted (they’re late), let’s bask in the glory of tonight’s kit matchup, which is an MLS all-timer. Both teams have excellent use of color, as Inter Miami sport their pink with black accents (I personally prefer the black kit with pink accents, but they’re both great), and visiting Charlotte FC have their royal purple with teal accents. Just spectacular.
Wearing our best suit for the occasion 💎 pic.twitter.com/sioXQplzgA
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) August 11, 2023
Llegaron los muchachos 👋#MIAvCLT | 8:30PM ET | 📺 #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/ZJV5sXDmEv
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 11, 2023
1 hour 15 mins to kick: The venue for tonight’s match, DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, is just a temporary location for Inter Miami until their permanent home in Miami is completed.
In truth, though, DRV PNK Stadium is an awesome spot to watch a match. It seats about 18,000 fans but feels like more, and the facilities are excellent. It will be a bummer when they have to depart for the Freedom Park location, which is set to open for the 2025 MLS season.
We are waiting for you Lionel Messi 🐐 pic.twitter.com/tNm0kryva1
— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) August 11, 2023
1 hour 30 mins to kick: While the connection between Messi and the rest of Inter Miami has been impressive, it’s his previous football relationship with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba that’s been most evident on the field.
Five of Messi’s seven goals for Inter Miami thus far have been assisted, and while officially only one of those were directly credited to his former Barcelona teammates (the opening goal against FC Dallas in the quarterfinals), Sergio Busquets had a direct hand in at least two others as well.
Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets et David Beckham ! 🦩🩷 pic.twitter.com/ofsaeqm7rz
— INTER MIAMI FR (@IntermiamiFR_) August 11, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: While the majority of individuals still, according to the betting market, believe that Lionel Messi will lead Inter Miami to victory, there are some late doubts to that as well.
While yesterday Inter Miami sported a -225 moneyline to win in 90 minutes, they now currently sit at -190, while Charlotte FC have moved from +475 to +400. There’s also been even greater movement in the game flow department, with Charlotte FC now thought very likely to find at least a goal — the « yes » option on both teams to score has moved from -145 all the way to -185, a significant shift.
MORE: Get a full preview of Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC from a betting perspective here
We’ve battled. And we’re not done yet. #ForTheCrown pic.twitter.com/QxLtiQtWWJ
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) August 11, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: When they say that you can feel « something in the air » with Messi Mania, it might just be the humidity they’re experiencing. It will be around 88 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff tonight, but with a humidity approaching 70 percent, it means the heat index will be in the mid to upper 90’s. There will definitely be hydration breaks in tonight’s match.
Back in Fort Lauderdale for Messimania where the air is borderline drinkable due to humidity, let’s go
— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) August 11, 2023
Inter Miami vs Charlotte lineups, team news
Inter Miami have integrated all three of their new superstars Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba into the starting lineup, and those three will be regularly deployed from here on out, with the exception likely only made for load management. In a knockout competition, there’s no way manager Gerardo Martino would look to sit any of them.
« Tata » made one change in midfield against FC Dallas, deploying Diego Gomez in midfield, but it was expected that in-form Benja Cremaschi grabs his starting spot back.
The only injury absentees for Inter Miami are long-term absentees Gregore, Jean Mota, Corentin Jean, Franco Negri, and Ian Fray. Gregore could possibly return from his foot injury soon, but he will need to be built up to full match fitness.
Inter Miami starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Miller, Alba — Arroyo, Busquets, Cremaschi — Messi, J. Martinez, Taylor.
Inter Miami subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
An injury to goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega saw Kristijan Kahlina unchallenged for the starting spot, and the Croatian has been a mainstay in net all season long. Talisman striker Enzo Copetti has been missing with a leg injury for some time, but his start to life at Charlotte FC had been so-so anyways, so Karol Swiderski has held down the fort up front.
Young midfielder Ben Bender has pushed for time with positive play off the bench, and he earns the spot start over regulars Kerwin Vargas and Justin Meram in a rare wide role. Harrison Afful enters at left-back for the suspended Nathan Byrne.
Charlotte FC starting lineup (4-1-4-1): Kahlina (GK) — Lindsey, Malanda, Privett, Afful — Westwood — Bender, Bronico, Arfield, Jozwiak — Swiderski.
Charlotte FC subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC
The match from DRV PNK Stadium will kick off at 8:30 p.m. local time in front of what is expected to be another sold-out crowd to watch Messi.
The match will be available around the world via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Inter Miami vs Charlotte betting odds
While Inter Miami have yet to play a truly challenging opponent since Lionel Messi arrived, they have proven capable of beating up on the lesser ones.
Messi & Friends carved up Atlanta United in the group stage, and they overwhelmed Orlando City in the Round of 32 as well. Inter Miami remain defensively challenged at times, as seen in the Round of 16 at FC Dallas, and while it’s hard to see them winning the entire competition, they have a kind draw here with Charlotte FC in the quarterfinal.
Inter Miami win
(90 mins)
Draw
(90 mins)
Charlotte FC win
(90 mins)
Both teams
to score
Y / N
Over/Under
2.5 goals
MIA
advance
CLT
advance
BetMGM
(USA)
-225
+360
+475
-145 / +100
-190 / +130
-375
+250
Sports
Interaction
(Canada)
-238
+330
+440
—
-185 / +132
—
—
Top Betting Sites
(UK)
12/25
15/4
21/4
7/10, 21/20
11/20, 7/5
1/4
49/20
Dafabet
(India)
1.46
4.60
5.80
1.73 / 2.08
1.58 / 2.41
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