Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest scores, team news and updates as Inter Miami take on Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final.
Messi appeared to look concerned for his teammates as he looked on with his wife Antonela and others
The referee has blown the whistle and we head into halftime with the Dynamo leading 2-0
Inter Miami have severly missed Messi tonight as they have been nearly nonexistent in attack. Houtson has outpossessed and outshot Miami by a wide margin throughout the first half.
Miami has in face only recorded one shot throughout the game and it missed the target by a Texsa-sized margin.
Houston first took the lead after Griffin Dorsey blasted a shot past Callender to give Houston the lead in the 24
Hector Herrera followed this up up by converting a penalty kick in the 33 to make the score 2-0.
The fourth official has signaled there will be at least three minutes of stoppage time
Miami’s first shot goes sailing into the stands
After taking over 40 minutes to finally recorded their first shot of the game Benjamin Cremaschi sent the attempt sailing into the fifth row of the crowd.
Miami has their backs against the wall as the half draws to an end
Houston is still applying loads of pressure as the search for a goal in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Goallllllll 2-0 Houston
Hector Herrera converts the penalty to extend Miami’s lead in the 33. He sent the kick down the middle as Callender dove to his right.
Penaltyyyyyy
DeAndre Yedlin dove into a tackle and gave a penalty as he brought down the attacker ahead of him. He was also give a yellow card
Former Houston Rocket James Harden was just seen in attendance
Griffin Dorsey blast a shot past Callender to give Houston the lead in the 24
He was given miles of space as he sprinted into the box before he powered a shot into the top of the net from a tough angle on the right hand side of net.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1-0 Houston
Callender has pulled off an amazing double save to keep the game tied in the 23
After diving to his left to deflect a shot to the ground he quickly stood up to deflect the rebound attempt from point blank range.
Houston have continued to pepper Miami with shots
Houston are outshooting Miami 7 – 0 in terms of shots. Only one of the shots have landed on target however.
Houston’s Franco Escobar has received the first yellow card of the game
He commited a foul that the refree deemed to be a high challenge
Through the first 10 minutes if play Houston has controlled possession
The Dynamo have not dropped below 55 percent possession as of yet and for an extended period of time held more than 60 percent.
Miami has had three attacks cut out in the first five minutes
On two occasions the defense picked up a clutch defelction and clearnce at the edge of the box, while the third went to waste as an early cross was played long.
Callender has seen his first action in goal
After only two minutes he was forced to pick up a wayward through ball played by Houston
Inter Miami has kicked things off and tonight’s game is officially underway
The players have taken the field and are lined up for the national anthem
Miami’s crowd loudly cheered with excitment as kickoff is only moments away.
We have another siting of an injured Lionel Messi in the building
Professional golfer Sergio Garcia is in attendance for tonight’s game
He appeared on the pregame coverage and breifely interviewed
Despite being out of action Messi is reportedly in the stadium to watch his teammates fight for the trophy
Some pictures of Busquets, ‘Tata’ Martino and other members of a Messi-less Miami team as they walk into the stadium
Here goes a deeper look into Messi’s absence in tonight’s crucial contest
Here’s a full look at the official lineups for tonight’s game as Messi will miss tonight’s game
The good news for Miami Sergio Busquets in the lineup, although Jordi Alba is also absent
Lionel Messi will not play for Miami tonight
Messi is not in the starting lineup nor tonight’s bench due to injury issues. Video emerged of Miami’s squad for tonight walking to the bench and Messi was not one of them. Shortly afterwards the pregame show confirmed his absence.
Miami’s fans are out in numbers for tonight’s game despite the poor weather conditions
Dynamo right back Franco Escobar will be playing against his… tattoo?
Escobar hails from the same town in Argentina as Messi and may have the chance to try and mark his idol on the field tonight
Despite Messi’s status being uncertain, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen is planning for the Miami magician to take the field
With around an hour and a half until here’s all the last-minute information you’ll need for tonight’s game
Hello and welcome to Daily Mail’s coverage of the US Open Cup final
The world is eagerly awaiting offical word on Lionel Messi’s status for tonight. He has been dealing with a muscle issue causing him to miss time.
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Inter Miami 0-2 Houston Dynamo – US Open Cup final LIVE: Lionel Messi watches his team fall BEHIND as Griffin Dorsey fires the visitors ahead before Bassi doubles the lead with a penalty
