Roy K Miller/Getty Images for USSF
Lionel Messi watches Inter Miami play Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final.
CNN –
Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final on Wednesday, with their gambler Lionel Messi watching from the sidelines.
Messi, who has already helped propel the team to their first major trophy in their history since joining in July, missed the game through injury but was in attendance at the DRV PNK Stadium in Miami.
And in his absence, Miami looked out of form as Houston built a two-goal lead in the first half with goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi.
Although Josef Martínez scored late in injury time to give Miami hope, Houston was able to defend the club’s fourth major trophy and first under head coach Ben Olsen.
“It’s huge for the club, it’s huge for the team. “It’s huge for everyone in Houston,” Houston right guard Dorsey told CBS sideline reporter Susannah Collins afterward.
“I think that we have been through a difficult period as the Houston Dynamo and this is something that will put us on the map and show that we are a team that can compete in the MLS, the Open Cup, the Leagues Cup and whatever Cup whatever we can compete in. We will play no matter what league we play in.”
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images for USSF
Houston Dynamo players celebrate winning the 2023 US Open Cup.
Olsen – a former USA international and US Open Cup winner as head coach of DC United – particularly credited his midfield of Héctor Herrera, Coco Carrasquilla, Bassi and Artur as the reason for the victory.
“That’s where this game would be won or lost. If our central midfield played to its potential, we would have a good chance of winning tonight. And that’s what they did,” he said.
“There were some nice things, especially in the first half. Led by Héctor, I found Héctor incredible. Artur, I just expect that from Artur in every game, whatever level he was at. Coco heading north and really passing the boys is a nice compliment to them, and Bassi – it’s very natural.
“We give them a structure to be successful, but a lot of what you see is feelings and relationships with the four of them in there, and it’s organic. “They’re fun to watch and they enjoy playing with each other.”
For Miami, the defeat calls into question the optimism that has surrounded the club since Messi’s arrival earlier this summer.
The 36-year-old has already led the club to the League Cup and helped them turn around their fortunes in the league.
However, with both Messi and his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba missing the US Open Cup final due to injury, Miami struggled to maintain a consistent attacking threat, rarely causing trouble for the Houston defense.
After the defeat, Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said a busy schedule had taken its toll on his team.
“What I saw was an exhausted team,” Martino said. “The reality is that at some point we would suffer the consequences of playing so many games.
“We started feeling it in terms of injuries and we started feeling it in terms of functionality.”