Leagues Cup roundup: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami past Atlas

Messi the maestro as Inter Miami edge Atlas 2-1

Another night, another dose of late-game magic from Lionel Messi. The Argentine set up both Inter Miami goals, first rolling a square ball for Telasco Segovia on 57 minutes, then—deep into stoppage time—finding Marcelo Weigandt for a tap-in winner. Miami had surrendered an 80th-minute equaliser to José Lozano, but Messi’s vision rescued all three points in this Central 4 group opener. It’s the third time in five Leagues Cup matches that Miami have scored after the 90th minute, a trend totals bettors tracking in-play angles will note as the tournament unfolds.

Fast-start Minnesota thumps Querétaro 4-1

The Loons blitzed their Liga MX visitors with two goals inside 20 minutes—Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s scrappy opener and Kelvin Yeboah’s curling free-kick—before adding late insurance through Anthony Markanich and Tani Oluwaseyi. Querétaro briefly halved the deficit via Jhojan Julio, but a second yellow to Ángel Zapata doomed any comeback hopes. Minnesota’s penchant for early strikes underscores why some punters lean toward first-half markets; see our primer on alternate lines in soccer for risk-reward breakdowns.

Badaloni brace lifts Necaxa past Atlanta United 3-1

Brad Guzan’s 12th-minute own goal put Atlanta on the back foot, and although Aleksei Miranchuk levelled before the half-hour, Necaxa’s Tomás Badaloni powered home two late headers—the first from an Agustín Palavecino corner on 77 minutes, the second in stoppage time—to seal it. The Rayos’ aerial dominance paid off handsomely, mirroring set-piece trends covered in Champions League betting tips.

Carrasquilla heroics give Pumas shoot-out win over Orlando City

Rodrigo Schlegel’s fifth-minute volley looked enough for Orlando until Adalberto Carrasquilla weaved through midfield, slipped past two defenders and slotted home an 80th-minute equaliser. In the penalty shoot-out, the Panamanian midfielder buried the decisive kick after Keylor Navas denied César Araújo. Orlando rattled the bar and missed their chance, proving yet again that pressure PKs are as much psychology as technique—a dynamic dissected in soccer betting bankroll management.