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Apr 11, 2024, 12:20 AM ET
MONTERREY, Mexico — Lionel Messi‘s return to the Inter Miami beginning lineup was in useless as his crew was eradicated from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Monterrey at BBVA Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Miami got here into the match trailing 2-1 from the primary leg of the quarterfinal and issues solely obtained worse within the second as Monterrey bottled up Messi and scored three objectives to win the tie 5-2 on combination.
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Brandon Vazquez opened the scoring for the house facet within the first half in entrance of a sold-out crowd and Germán Berterame and Jesús Gallardo added an aesthetic purpose every within the second to place the quarterfinal properly out of attain.
A visibly annoyed Jordi Alba was despatched off late within the second half after receiving two yellow playing cards for a pair of rash challenges, leaving Miami to complete the sport with 10 gamers.
Diego Gomez headed in a comfort purpose for Miami from a Messi free kick earlier than full-time, however Monterrey was firmly answerable for the sport and held on to advance to the semifinals.
Monterrey will face the lone remaining MLS facet within the CCC within the subsequent spherical when it takes on the Columbus Crew, with the primary leg scheduled for April 23.
Messi has been out of Miami’s beginning lineup since March 13 with a proper thigh harm, though he did come on as an alternative and rating a purpose within the second half of a draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had teased the return of his star on Tuesday within the press convention forward of the match by confirming Messi’s health degree.
“Effectively, he is good. He felt good after enjoying 45 minutes within the MLS match in opposition to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday,” Martino mentioned. “We nonetheless have at this time’s coaching, so we will see. However the harm continues to be left behind, which is a very powerful half.”
The World Cup winner with Argentina left Miami’s CCC round-of-16 match in opposition to Nashville early within the second half on March 13 with a proper thigh harm that additionally stored him out of a pair of friendlies with the nationwide crew.
The MLS facet bypassed the preliminary spherical of the Champions Cup by profitable the inaugural version of Leagues Cup in 2023, earlier than beating Nashville within the spherical of 16 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Miami, which is third in MLS’ Jap Convention, subsequent play a street recreation in opposition to Sporting Kansas Metropolis on Saturday.
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