Chase Stadium- Inter Miami settled the score with the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday night with a convincing 3-1 win in front of the home crowd. Miami lost the 2025 Leagues Cup Finals to Seattle 3-0 on August 31, in a surprisingly easy victory for the Sounders. Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba lead the Herons with a goal and an assist each, with Ian Fray rounding out the scoring with a powerful header off a corner kick. Obed Vargas scored for Seattle.
Starting XI
Inter Miami made some tweaks to the starting lineup versus Seattle, with Jordi Alba playing higher up the pitch and Noah Allen slotting in at left back. Oscar Ustari started in goal, with Noah Allen, Maxi Falcon, Gonzalo Lujan, and Ian Fray the back four—Jordi Alba, Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Busquets, and Yannick Bright the midfield conductors. Lionel Messi and Tadeo Allende were the forwards.
Looks like #InterMiamiCF could be lining up in a 5-3-2 formation to face Seattle..If that is the case, it’s a welcomed wrinkle.. Maybe tonight they can play solid defensively? #Messi #MLS #MLSes
pic.twitter.com/8GZ0AtPQRW— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 16, 2025
Match Action
Jordi Alba got Inter Miami on top early in the 12th minute with his patented left foot. Yannick Bright won a ball in the midfield and passed to Lionel Messi, who found Jordi on the left flank running into the Seattle box. Alba finished with quality for the Miami 1-0 lead.
Lionel #Messi leads the counterattack & lays the ball off to Jordi Alba who buries it in the Sounders net to give #InterMiamiCF the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute of the match..#MLS #MLSes
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 17, 2025
The Goat was on the receiving end of a Jordi Alba dime for Miami’s second goal in the 41st minute. Yannick Bright, once again, won a duel in the midfield and this time passed the ball to Alba. Jordi laid out a sensational curving pass into the box for a sliding Messi to push past the Seattle goalie for the 2-0 lead.
Jordi Alba returns the favor & provides #Messi with the assist to extend the #InterMiamiCF lead to 2-0..The GOAT 🐐 gets back on the scoresheet…#MLS #MLSes
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 17, 2025
Ian Fray scored Miami’s third goal with a hammering header off a Rodrigo De Paul corner kick cross. Inter Miami led 3-0 convincingly and comfortably.
Ian Fray! The young defender hammers a corner kick into the Seattle goal for the 3-0 lead ..#InterMiamiCF is playing comfortably & stoutly against the Sounders tonight..#MLS #Messi #MLSes
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 17, 2025
Obed Vargas prevented the clean sheet with a goal in the 69th minute. Jordi Alba gave a bad backheel pass that was intercepted and led to the lethal Seattle Counter. Obed’s goal sealed the final 3-1 scoreline.
Seattle gets on the board in the 69th minute with Obed Vargas finishing a quick counter after Jordi Alba misplays a heel pass to Noah Allen..#MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) September 17, 2025
Postgame
Miami’s convincing win over Seattle was in dire contrast to their previous match, where they lost 3-0 handily. I asked Ian Fray what the biggest difference was for Inter Miami in this match,
I think we just came out with a lot more intensity from the first minute of the game. I think that was the biggest difference… We won evry 50/50 ball, we won every first and second ball…
An honest assessment by the young defender, anyone who watched both matches can agree with him. The problem is that the Herons lacked this intensity for the most important match of the season so far, the 2025 League Cup Final. I don’t believe they lacked intensity because they lacked motivation or desire to be champions, but instead because the veteran stars on the squad were physically drained. Throughout the tournament and in the MLS season, Messi, Busquets, Suarez, and Alba have played extended minutes with little to no rest. They had two weeks to rest for this game versus Seattle, and I believe the fresh legs allowed for the newfound intensity. I’ve advocated for resting the star players by subbing them off during games in the second half instead of having them play 90 minutes each match. I don’t think that’s ever going to happen with these players, so I hope that they can maintain their stamina for what remains of the season.
Final Thoughts
Tales of Inter Miami’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The Herons bounced back in a big way against Seattle, winning convincingly and comfortably. Miami once again looked like the juggernaut they are supposed to be because of the number of big-name players it has on the roster. One game does not a season change, but one game can be the spark for a team and a fanbase.
Gonzalo Lujan and Noah Allen both played really well for Miami versus Seattle. Allen covered Alba’s back finely, allowing Jordi to play confidently higher up the pitch. Lujan had a strong game at center back next to Maxi Falcon and looked every bit the ideal partner for Maxi moving forward.
Yannick Bright is so important for Miami’s midfield. He is the unquestioned warrior taking on all the dirty work of winning duels all over the pitch. I said it from day one when I saw him as a rookie on Miami’s preseason tour. Bright can be a very special player if he continues to develop his technical and offensive skills.
Rodrigo De Paul made a huge difference in Inter Miami’s win over Seattle by finally living up to his nickname of “El Motorcito”. He was all over the pitch, receiving and sending passes for Miami, along with providing a strong, intense defensive effort. This is the De Paul Inter Miami needs if they want to compete for MLS Cup.
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