So, you're saying there's a chance? Inter Miami's Leagues Cup run is all but done

Las Garzas need a minor miracle to advance in the Leagues Cup chase

Inter Miami qualified for the Leagues Cup knockout rounds in each of the last three Leagues Cup tournaments, winning the title in 2023 and losing the championship match to Seattle a year ago. Over the next few days, thanks to tragedy, injury and stupidity, the Herons need truckloads of rabbits' feet, four-leafed clovers, and horseshoes to survive elimination in "Phase One."

The Pink & Black play their third and final Phase One match against a tough Club León team Wednesday. If all they had to do to advance was beat Los Esmeraldas, I'd be cautiously optimistic. But former MLS standout Diego Rossi's 90th-minute goal Saturday gave the Rayados a 2-1 win against Miami after trailing 1-0 at halftime. The Herons won their first Phase One match, against Atlético San Luis, 4-2. After two Leagues Cup matches, Las Garzas have three points and a goal differential of plus one (+1), with 5 goals scored and 4 allowed.

What does that mean? Unlike most international competitions, Leagues Cup does not begin with a group stage, in which each team in a group plays every other team in the group to determine which should advance to the knockout stages. The competition is a partnership between Liga MX and Major League Soccer, the first division professional leagues in Mexico and the Unites States (three Canadian teams play in MLS).

To ensure more meaningful interleague matches, organizers changed the format before last year's tournament; instead of winning a four-team group, sides must finish Phase One among the top four teams of their respective leagues. The field is comprised by all 18 Mexican clubs and the 18 MLS Cup playoff teams from the previous season.

Miami isn't competing against San Luis, Monterrey and Club León; they're competing against 17 other MLS teams for just four spots. To help sort the crowded field, matches that end tied go directly to penalty kicks. Winning a penalty shootout earns 2 points, while a penalty kick loss is worth 1. A regulation time win is worth 3 points and a regulation loss is worth none. The first tiebreaker is goal differential, followed by goals scored and goals conceded.

Below is the MLS Leagues Cup table after two matches:

Team	Points	Goal differential	Next opponent
Austin	6	+5	América, Thurs.
Charlotte	6	+5	Pachuca, Tues.
Chicago	6	+4	Cruz Azul, Thurs.
Cincinnati	6	+4	Atlas, Tues.
Columbus	6	+3	Pumas, Tues.
Dallas	6	+3	Toluca, Wed.
LAFC	5	+1	Querétaro, Wed.
Salt Lake	4	+4	Juárez, Tues.
Nashville	3	+2	Monterrey, Wed.
Portland	3	+1	Tijuana, Thurs.
Miami	3	+1	León, Wed.
NYCFC	3	+1	Necaxa, Thurs.
Philadelphia	3	+1	Santos Laguna, Thurs.
Orlando	3	0	San Luis, Wed.
Seattle	3	0	Guadalajara, Wed.
San Diego	3	-1	Puebla, Wed.
Minnesota	1	-1	Atlante, Tues.
Vancouver	0	-3	Tigres, Tues.

So, back to the question: What does it mean for Las Garzas to have 3 points after two matches? It means they've got a lot of work to do and need a lot of help.

After all teams completed their second Phase One matches, six (6!) teams had won both matches and topped the MLS table with 6 points each, with goal differentials of at least +3. Miami fans have to hope that AT LEAST three of those teams -- Austin, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dallas -- lose their third matches this week, AND that LAFC (5 points) does not win in regulation or in penalty kicks AND that Real Salt Lake (4 points) does not win in regulation.

Is it possible? Theoretically, yes. But is it really possible? Start gathering those lucky charms; we'll find out over the next three days.

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Las Garzas need a minor miracle to advance in the Leagues Cup chase

Miami

3

+1

León, Wed.