By Franklin | SoFlo Sports Buzz
June 24, 2025 | Miami, Florida
OKAY.
LET’S RUN IT BACK.
I started the night with optimism.
I had my pink jersey on.
I even cleaned the screen before kickoff like it was a first date.
AND THEN WE WENT UP 2–0 ON PALMEIRAS AND I ASCENDED INTO THE SKY.
Tadeo Allende ran like he was late for a Brickell parking meter, scored a BEAUTY after breaking three men’s souls, and then just casually jogged away like “Yeah I do this now.”
LEGEND.
THEN LUIS SUÁREZ DECIDED TO TIME-TRAVEL BACK TO 2015.
- One cut.
- One laser.
- One “Are you serious??” from me and everyone in Section 119.
At 2–0, I high-fived my ceiling fan.
BUT THEN… OH BUT THEN…
- 80th minute: Palmeiras scores.
- 87th minute: Palmeiras scores again.
- Me: Slowly lays on floor whispering “we had it” over and over while my dog looks concerned.
I blacked out emotionally somewhere between the equalizer and the final whistle.
I said words no grown man should say about VAR, time-wasting, and gravity.
I don’t remember if I threw a pillow or if the pillow threw me.
BUT HERE’S THE THING:
WE’RE STILL THROUGH.
WE ADVANCE.
INTER MIAMI. ROUND OF 16. CLUB WORLD CUP. PSG NEXT.
Repeat that out loud:
WE. ARE. PLAYING. PARIS. SAINT. GERMAIN.
In a one-game knockout.
With Messi.
With Suárez.
With me yelling into the sun.
Yeah, we blew a two-goal lead.
Yeah, I will never emotionally recover.
But this team is in the fight.
And I will tattoo “2–2 but we move” on my soul if we beat PSG.
QUICK THOUGHTS WHILE I HYDRATE:
- Allende? Star in the making.
- Suárez? Still HIM.
- Messi? Quiet game, still controlled everything.
- Busquets? Hasn’t blinked since April.
- Mascherano? Our new sideline general. I think he’s got the tactics, but even he looked like he wanted to sprint onto the field and defend the box himself in the 87th.
- My stress level? TSA wouldn’t let me board with it.
I don’t know what’s gonna happen next.
I don’t know how we stop PSG’s midfield.
I don’t know why we let two goals in while I was literally mid-victory snack.
BUT I DO KNOW THIS:
We’re still alive.
We’re in the knockout stage.
And I am bringing unhinged pink energy to ATLANTA.
See you in the Round of 16.
Let’s shock the world.
Let’s give PSG nightmares.
Let’s go full Miami.
VAMOS INTER MIAMI.