Inter Miami’s Icy Triumph: Mascherano’s Take on ‘Inhumane’ Conditions
On a night that will be remembered for its bone-chilling temperatures as much as the action on the pitch, Inter Miami CF emerged victorious with a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup first round. The match, held at Children’s Mercy Park, was played under conditions that head coach Javier Mascherano described as “inhumane.”
Mascherano, speaking at the post-match press conference, couldn’t hide his pride in his team’s performance. “I’m very proud because I think it’s impossible to play in these conditions,” he said. “It is not human, you know, so I’m very proud because they gave me 100% with intensity, with a lot of attitude, so we are happy. We are in the halftime of the qualifiers, so now try to rest after a very difficult game for us.”
The match was initially postponed by 24 hours due to severe winter storm warnings predicting five to seven inches of snowfall across Kansas City. However, when the game finally kicked off at 7:00 pm CT, the temperatures were a frigid five degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill making it feel like negative five degrees. By halftime, the mercury had dropped even further to three degrees Fahrenheit, with a feels-like temperature of negative eight degrees.
Despite the harsh weather, the legendary Lionel Messi managed to shine through the cold, scoring his first official goal of the year. The goal came after a brilliant connection with his longtime teammate Sergio Busquets, culminating in a right-footed shot that found the back of the net.
Mascherano was effusive in his praise for Messi, stating, “Fantastic [goal], I think maybe for the people that know him, it’s normal because he did things like this or goals like this 1,000 times, but we are very lucky to have him in our team.”
This victory marked a significant milestone for Mascherano, as it was his first official triumph since being appointed as Inter Miami’s head coach last November, replacing Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino. While Mascherano had led the team to several preseason victories, this Concacaf Champions Cup match was his debut in an official capacity.
For Sporting Kansas City, the task ahead is clear. They must score at least twice in the second leg of the series to advance to the next round in regulation time. SKC head coach Peter Vermes acknowledged the challenge posed by Messi, saying, “I thought we played really well, we were very organized defensively. We didn’t give anything away. There is one guy [Messi] that can turn the game over and he did.”
Vermes continued, “It’s not just [what he does] to us, it’s what he does to the whole world, anyone who plays against him. He can change the game himself, and there aren’t many players you can say that about in the world’s game and over generations.”
Looking ahead, Inter Miami will host Sporting Kansas City at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, for the second leg of the first round series. The warmer climate of Florida will undoubtedly be a welcome change for both teams after the icy ordeal in Kansas City.
- Match Date: Feb 25, 2025
- Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Objective for Sporting KC: Score at least twice to advance
As the teams prepare for the next leg, fans and players alike will be hoping for a more temperate environment, allowing the focus to return to the beautiful game rather than the brutal weather.
Originally Written by: Lizzy Becherano
