Suarez, Messi, Inter Miami lose to Seattle Sounders in Leagues Cup final

Seattle grounds an emphatic triumph successful a lucifer wherever Miami’s Luis Suarez appeared to spit connected a Sounders staffer post-game.

Alex Roldan converted from the punishment spot precocious successful the 2nd fractional and had an assistance during the archetypal fractional arsenic hosts Seattle Sounders defeated Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami 3-0 to triumph the 2025 Leagues Cup final.

The lucifer connected Sunday was marred by a melee astatine the last whistle involving aggregate players from some teams. Miami striker Luis Suarez appeared to beryllium 1 of the players astatine the mediate of it, and video cameras appeared to seizure him spitting astatine a subordinate of Seattle’s unit post-game arsenic the melee died down.

The Leagues Cup is held jointly by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX with Concacaf sanctioning, and frankincense has a disciplinary committee autarkic from some leagues oregon the continental federation. Presumably, it would beryllium liable for deciding immoderate subject for the incident, though perchance MLS could besides get involved.

Roldan acceptable up Osaze De Rosario’s 4th extremity of the tourney for the opener for Seattle, which won its 2nd Concacaf honour and ninth all-time large trophy since opening MLS play successful 2009.

It is the Sounders’ archetypal since they defeated Mexico’s Pumas UNAM implicit 2 legs to triumph the 2022 Concacaf Champions League, ending a tally of 16 consecutive Mexican champions successful that event.

Paul Rothrock scored the 3rd successful the last moments of a triumph that guaranteed Seattle a first-round bye into the circular of 16 astatine the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, centre, celebrates with teammates, including guardant Pedro De La Vega, left, aft scoring the 3rd extremity against Inter Miami successful the 89th infinitesimal astatine Lumens Field successful Seattle [Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo]

Miami failed to unafraid their 3rd large trophy since Messi’s accomplishment during the summertime of the 2023 play and their 2nd Leagues Cup rubric aft winning the 2023 event.

The Herons are inactive guaranteed a Concacaf spot adjacent year, but they volition commencement successful the archetypal circular unless they triumph the 2025 MLS Cup.

Seattle were ascendant during the archetypal fractional and went deservingly successful beforehand successful the 26th minute.

Jesus Ferreira played the archetypal shot retired wide to Roldan connected the right, and Roldan curled successful an outswinging transverse to the acold post, wherever De Rosario met it with a decisive header.

Miami wasted 2 fantabulous chances to level aboriginal successful the 2nd half, with Suarez providing the link-up play.

In the 50th minute, it was Messi, arriving conscionable supra the six-yard container to Suarez’s spinning, cutback pass, but the Argentinian prima fired implicit goalkeeper Andrew Thomas.

Then successful the 60th minute, Tadeo Allende was connected the extremity of Suarez’s clever backheel, but helium sent his onslaught wide of the close station arsenic Thomas charged disconnected his line.

That proved costly erstwhile Sounders substitute Georgi Minoungou got escaped down the near broadside of the tract successful the 82nd minute. With Yannick Bright tracking backmost to defend, Minoungou attempted a cutback and was caught by Bright’s sliding challenge.

Roldan coolly converted the punishment past Oscar Ustari successful the 84th infinitesimal to crook hostility into joyousness for astir of a assemblage of 69,314 astatine Lumen Field – a Leagues Cup and nine single-game attendance record.

A video camera that was posted connected societal video appeared to amusement Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez, left, spitting connected a Sounders staffer aft the full-time whistle [Lynne Sladky/AP Photo]