Inter Miami, Lionel Messi Crash Out Of CONCACAF Champions Cup
NDTV
Mexican side Monterrey sent Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash.
Mexican side Monterrey sent Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash. Goals from Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo sealed a deserved 3-1 win on the night for the Liga-MX side, who advance to a semi-final with Major League Soccer champions Columbus. Trailing 2-1 after last week's first leg in Florida, Inter Miami recalled Messi to their starting line-up for the first time since his near-month-long injury absence.
But the presence of the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner was not enough to inspire Inter against a Monterrey side who looked far sharper in all departments.
Inter goalkeeper Drake Callender was forced into action early on, saving smartly after a bullet header by Monterrey's US international striker Vazquez.
Messi had Miami's best chance of the first half but he shot over the bar from just inside the area on 25 minutes.
Monterrey took the lead on 31 minutes after Vazquez punished a howler from Callender.
