Columbus Crew defeated Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-0 in the US Open Cup. The fixture is part of the 4th Round stage in the 2016 season. The match was played at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium (Columbus, Ohio). The full-time result capped a Columbus Crew vs Tampa Bay Rowdies meeting in US Open Cup with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Columbus Crew and Tampa Bay Rowdies. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
US Open CupRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
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Sebastian Berhalter assisted with a header in his first official game for Middlesbrough, a 1-0 win over Wrexham in the first round of the English League Cup. Max Arfsten also started, despite training only twice since arriving from the Columbus Crew. The post Americans Abroad: Praise for Arfsten and Berhalter upon Boro debuts appeared first on Soccer America.
Inter Miami Chief Business Officer Xavier Asensi revealed the club's plan to keep Lionel Messi connected once he retires. Lionel Messi has already secured his future at Inter Miami long after he hangs up his boots, according to the club’s Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi. In an interview with MARCA, Asensi revealed that Miami has a clear plan in place for the Argentine once his playing days are over, stating that Messi has earned the right to leave the game on his own terms. “There will come a moment when Leo is no longer playing… It would be reckless not to think about the post-Leo era,” Asensi said, adding that Messi, more than anyone, has earned the right to walk away from soccer whenever he chooses. That “post-Leo” planning, according to Asensi, already includes a concrete role for the World Cup winner within the organization once his career comes to an end. That role would see Messi become part of Inter Miami‘s ownership group. “The idea is that, once he stops playing, he’ll have an option with Inter to invest his time… once he’s no longer an active player, he’ll become part of Inter Miami’s shareholding group,” he explained. Under current MLS statutes, Messi cannot legally hold an ownership stake while still an active player, meaning the shareholding role would only take effect once he formally retires. Lionel Messi celebrates a goal for Inter Miami. (Getty Images) For now, though, that moment remains on hold. Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of 2028, and he has already returned to action this season following a vacation after Argentina’s World Cup campaign. Messi’s grand return Messi’s comeback began at the MLS, coming off the bench in the 53rd minute of Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew on August 1, just days after leading Argentina to their second straight World Cup final appearance. Despite not starting, he immediately looked sharp, leading the match with four shots and five touches inside the box. Four days later, Messi was back in the starting XI for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, and he delivered in style. After San Luis struck first inside four minutes, Messi equalized in the 13th and put Miami ahead for good with his second of the night in the 32nd, as Inter Miami rallied to a 4-2 win at NU Stadium. The brace also made him Leagues Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals in the competition, surpassing Denis Bouanga.
Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos explained how Lionel Messi was able to return to the MLS in less than two weeks from the 2026 World Cup final. Lionel Messi has officially returned to the pitch for Inter Miami following Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final. Less than two weeks after squaring off against Spain, head coach Guillermo Hoyos shed light on the driving forces behind the superstar’s MLS rapid turn-around. Following the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, Messi took a brief vacation before reporting back to Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale training facility on Wednesday. With only a couple of team sessions under his belt, the legendary forward suited up to aid the Herons in their ongoing quest for MLS hardware. On Saturday, Aug. 1, Inter Miami hosted the Columbus Crew. Rather than watching from a luxury box as originally expected, Messi was named to the matchday squad as a substitute. The captain entered in the 53rd minute and made an immediate impact, firing four shots (one on target), though the Herons ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw after Columbus midfielder Brais Mendez scored an 84th-minute equalizer. In his postgame press conference, Hoyos praised the dedication of his squad, singling out international stars Messi and Rodrigo De Paul: “I want to thank all the players for the effort they put in. I especially want to thank Leo and Rodri for traveling and showing up so soon after the World Cup. That was very important. This is a difficult, competitive league. We were winning in the 86th minute and wanted three points, but ended up with one. The game escaped us in the final minutes.“ Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball against the Columbus Crew. Hoyos on what drove Messi’s accelerated return Despite turning 39 during the 2026 World Cup, Messi defied expectations by making his return to competitive play in less than a fortnight. Instead of waiting for the club’s upcoming Leagues Cup debut, the Argentine legend insisted on getting match minutes under his belt against Columbus. When asked how Messi managed to stay fit and return so quickly, Hoyos offered a simple explanation: “Love for the game. The feeling towards a team as well. He is a football player, and when we are football players, we never leave football behind. Today I am a manager, but I will never stop being a football player. It is a very strong feeling.“ Hoyos’ sentiment aligns with Messi’s actions during his abbreviated time off. While resting in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, the star was spotted supporting Leones FC (the fourth-division club presided over by his brother, Matias) proving that even during his downtime, soccer remains front and center. Inter Miami now shifts its focus to the 2026 Leagues Cup, opening tournament play against Mexican side Atletico San Luis on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Nu Stadium. Following his cameo against the Crew, Messi’s participation is all but guaranteed.
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