Inter Miami advances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the match that defined the series, Inter Miami took the lead in the eighth minute when Suárez scored from the right inside the area before the goalkeeper left after controlling a pass from Messi, who scored the second goal in the 23rd minute with a left footed shot inside. from the area after receiving a pass from Paraguayan Diego Gómez.
Nashville came close to scoring in the 45th minute when Daniel Lovitz’s shot hit the post.
Robert Taylor completed the score for Inter Miami in the 63rd minute, which advanced to the next stage with an aggregate score of 5-3.
Inter Miami vs Nashville Match Highlights
- Lionel Messi found his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, in stride for a goal that opened scoring in the eighth minute
- Lionel Messi added a first-half goal to give Inter Miami an early 2-0 lead on Wednesday night.
- Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino substituted Lionel Messi in the 50th minute because of Lionel Messi mild leg injury.
- Inter Miami’s third goal was scored by Taylor in the 63rd minute when he headed a cross sent by Suárez.
- Nashville scored in the 93rd minute with a shot by British Sam Surridge in the six-yard box after a cross from Shaquell Moore.
- Inter Miami beat Nashville in round-of-16 match with a score of 3-1 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
- Inter Miami advantage 5-3 in aggregate goals in the total-goals series and advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with the win.
Lionel Messi Impact on the Match
Lionel Messi procured a free kick after a foul by Nashville’s Anibal Godoy just four minutes into the match but had his attempt blocked. The 36-year-old immediately jumping all over his chance a couple of moments later, utilizing his noteworthy vision to fit a pass to a streaking Suarez,then Suarez sent the ball in the right corner of the net.
Lionel Messi utilized a pass from Diego Gomez to score from inside the penalty region as fans began reciting his name. Taylor later got on the board with a header off an assistance by Suarez.
After the match Nashville mentor Gary Smith said Lionel Messi himself was very quick and sharp in the initial 15 minutes. He was then asked his considerations when he saw Messi trotting off the field early in the second half.
“Firstly, thank goodness,” Smith said jokingly. Lionel Messi has huge influence on the rest of the group. Indeed, they have other excellent players, but there is no one that can do what he can do. … Really glad to see him go off, I honestly thought that their performance dipped, and it gave us a little bit of an incentive.”
Inter Miami are currently amid a busy month that includes seven matches — four of which have arrived in a 10-day length. Messi is expected to join the Argentina national team in warm-up matches of Copa America on March 22 and 26.
Luis Suárez Statement to the Officials of CONCACAF Broadcast After Match
We have fulfilled the objective which was to advance, we did our job in the way we wanted and we are very happy with the team’s performance. If you want to win this competition you have to compete with all the rivals that face you and with the mentality of having ambition, that can take us far.
“The competitions that Inter have will try to win,” he said.
In the quarterfinals, Inter Miami will face the winner of the series between Monterrey of Mexico and Cincinnati of the MLS that will be defined on Thursday.
In the first leg, the “Rayados” of Monterrey won 1-0 as visitors.
Meanwhile, América made it to the quarterfinals despite losing 3-2 to Guadalajara in the definition of the key that pitted the two most popular clubs in Mexico against each other.
For the “Chivas” of Guadalajara, Cade Cowell, Ricardo Marín and Roberto Alvarado scored; while for the “Águilas” it was done by Guadalajara defender Alan Mozo in his own goal and Alejandro Zendejas.
América, which advanced with a global score of 5-3, will face the winner of the series between Alajuelense of Costa Rica and New England Revolution of the United States in the quarterfinals, which will be resolved on Thursday. The American team won 4-0 in the first leg.
Earlier, Herediano of Costa Rica advanced to the quarterfinals by drawing 1-1 with Robinhood of Suriname. Mexican Adrián Garza scored for the Costa Rican team, while Don Tuur scored for Robinhood.
Herediano, which moved to the next stage with an aggregate score of 3-1 after winning the first leg 2-0, will face Pachuca of Mexico in the quarterfinals, which on Tuesday eliminated Philadelphia Union of the United States after beating them 6 -0.
By DNC