FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — At some point, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp will reflect on playing against Inter Miami star Lionel Messi.
But that moment must wait until after both clubs meet again Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup first-round series at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami leads the series 1-0 on aggregate score thanks to a goal by Messi during a frigid match at SKC last Wednesday. If SKC hopes to pull off an upset, they’ll have to score at least two goals and beat Inter Miami by a goal Tuesday night.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t kind of a cool factor of playing against somebody that you grew up watching, that you view as the top of the top,” Pulskamp, who played with the U.S. Soccer team at the Paris Olympics, said of Messi. “You know in the back of your mind that it’s a player that has a special ability, but you know there’s other players that have special abilities as well that you have to be aware of.
‘And then, afterwards you can, you can take that moment and kind of reflect on it being a cool moment.”
Messi, the reigning MLS MVP and Argentine World champion, is expected to start and play against Sporting Kansas City. But it’s unclear how much he could play.
Messi has played every minute of Inter Miami’s last two matches, and Tuesday’s match will mark the third in six days. Including five preseason matches, Inter Miami will play eight matches in 40 days.
Although the series is in Inter Miami’s favor, coach Javier Mascherano wants his team to play without relying on it’s one-score cushion.
“No, 1-0 gives absolutely nothing,’ Mascherano said. ‘In fact, we prepare for the match, thinking that the match in 0-0.’
Obviously, slowing Messi down will be key for Sporting Kansas City — the club is 0-2 against him in two matches the last year, with him scoring in both. SKC coach Peter Vermes has routinely praised Messi when asked about the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
As much as Vermes said he’ll plan to be organized defensively to deny Messi the ball and not give away possession in transition, he knows Messi can find a way to enforce his will.
‘There’s so many different coaches that have tried over the years, but you really just can’t put a game plan in for him because he’s one of those players, which there’s not very few, that can change the outcome of the game on their own,” Vermes said.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City match Tuesday?
The match will be available to watch FS2 in English and ViX in Spanish.
What time does Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City match begin?
The game will begin at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina) on Tuesday night.
Who leads the Inter Miami-Sporting Kansas City Champions Cup series?
Messi scored the only goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the first-round series.
What score does Inter Miami, Kansas City need to advance?
Inter Miami would advance to the next round with a win or draw by any score.
Kansas City would advance by scoring two or more goals in a one-goal victory at Chase Stadium.
If SKC is up 1-0 after regulation, the match will be tied on aggregate score and go to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Who does Inter Miami or Sporting Kansas City face in next round?
Jamaican league champions Cavalier FC earned a bye to the round of 16 in the Champions Cup tournament, and await the winner of Inter Miami-Sporting Kansas City.