MIAMI, Florida – The 2023 Leagues Cup got off to a rousing start on Friday night with a second half stoppage time winning goal from Argentine superstar Lionel Messi highlighting a 2-1 Inter Miami win versus Cruz Azul in South Group 3 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Messi and fellow new arrival and former FC Barcelona teammate MF Sergio Busquets came on as second half substitutes, but it was Mexico international Uriel Antuna temporarily stealing the headlines with a strike to bring Cruz Azul level 1-1.

Yet Messi would not be denied in his first official club competition on North American soil with a free kick in the 90+4’ to give his new team the three points.

In South Group 2 MLS sides Orlando City SC and the Houston Dynamo dueled to a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando City come away with two points to end the evening thanks to their 5-4 penalty shootout win, while Houston leave with one point.

In their first ever international match, Mazatlan FC emerged with a 3-1 victory over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas to take over the top spot in South Group 1.

Another all-MLS duel between FC Dallas and Charlotte FC ended in a draw, as the 2-2 final in South Group 4 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas saw Charlotte earn the extra point with a 4-1 penalty shootout win.

Penalties were required to determine the extra point in the West Group 3 affair between 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup winners Club Leon and the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A 2-2 draw gave way to a thrilling 19-round penalty shootout and a 16-15 Club Leon win in spot kicks.

The action continues on Saturday beginning with CF Montreal of MLS facing Liga MX side Pumas at Saputo Stadium in Montreal to start things off in East Group 2. Both teams last appeared in the Champions Cup in 2022.

MLS rivals New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls will meet in East Group 4 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. The Revolution last played in the Champions Cup in 2022, while it has been since 2019 for the Red Bulls.

A MLS vs. Liga MX contest will take place in East Group 1 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania as the Philadelphia Union meet Club Tijuana. Philadelphia have played in two of the last three Champions Cup. Xolos are aiming for a first Concacaf appearance since 2018.

The evening then ends with a pair of all-MLS encounters. Real Salt Lake and 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup winners the Seattle Sounders square off in West Group 2 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, while the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes will get going in West Group 1 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.

2010-11 Champions Cup runners-up Real Salt Lake last played in Concacaf in the 2015-16 edition. Seattle would like to return to the tournament where they became the third MLS team to be a Concacaf champion.

San Jose’s last Champions Cup appearance came in the 2013-14 edition; Portland participated in the 2021 tournament.