- Monterrey advances to CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Inter Miami, despite Messi’s return to lineup
- Inter Miami struggles against Monterrey, with Vazquez, Berterame, and Gallardo scoring for the Mexican side in the quarter-final clash
Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, faced elimination from the CONCACAF Champions League as Mexican club Monterrey secured a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash on Wednesday.
Monterrey sealed a 3-1 win in the second leg, with goals from Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame, and Jesus Gallardo. The Liga-MX side advanced to the semi-finals, where they will meet Major League Soccer champions Columbus.
Despite Messi’s return to the starting lineup after a month-long injury absence, Inter Miami struggled to match Monterrey’s sharpness. Monterrey’s US international striker Vazquez capitalized on a goalkeeper error to open the scoring, while Berterame and Gallardo extended their lead with impressive strikes.
Inter Miami’s chances were limited, with Messi missing a key opportunity in the first half. Former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez saw a goal disallowed for offside just before halftime.
Miami’s hopes further dwindled when Monterrey’s Berterame and Gallardo added two more goals. Former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba’s red card compounded Miami’s woes.
Despite a late consolation goal from Diego Gomez, Miami coach Gerardo Martino conceded defeat, acknowledging Monterrey’s superiority. Martino highlighted the challenges MLS clubs face against Mexican teams, citing salary and spending restrictions as contributing factors to the disparity.
The CONCACAF Champions League winner secures a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, with Mexican clubs historically dominating the competition. Martino emphasized the need for MLS to address roster limitations to level the playing field against Liga-MX teams.
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