Inter Miami wants to follow FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund to the 2025 Club World Cup. Against Nashville, Lionel Messi & Co. cleared the first hurdle convincingly.
Once again the match winner for Inter Miami: Lionel Messi. IMAGO/Agencia MexSport
Thanks to its offensive stars, Inter Miami reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. On Thursday night (CET), Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led their team to a 3-1 home win against Nashville SC in the second leg of the round of 16, which was easily enough to advance after the 2-2 draw in the first meeting. After just 23 minutes, Inter were clearly on course for the quarterfinals at Chase Stadium at home.
First, Suarez, who had made the final score in the first leg shortly before the end, let a ball pass through a body deception for Messi, who immediately served his former teammate from FC Barcelona with a through ball in the penalty area – 1-0 (8th). Then 20-year-old Diego Gomez dribbled his way into the penalty area and laid it off for Messi – 2-0 (23rd). For the world champion, who was last rested in the 2-3 win against CF Montreal in the league, it was already the ninth competitive game scorer point this season (five goals, four assists).
Messi has to leave the pitch – Martino gives the all-clear
Five minutes after the half-time break, Messi had to leave the field, but there was no reason for concern for the Inter fans: Firstly, the Finnish international Robert Taylor, who came on as a substitute for the captain, headed the decisive 3-0 (63.) after a cross from Suarez. ); secondly, Miami coach Gerardo Martino explained afterwards that Messi’s substitution was a precautionary measure due to muscular problems.
It wasn’t until injury time that the guests, led by record man Hany Mukhtar, managed to score another goal through Sam Surridge, but it no longer had any effect. Inter, qualified for the competition as last season’s Leagues Cup winners, is in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the equivalent of the Champions League for clubs from North and Central America and the Caribbean, for the first time.
A strong opponent awaits in the quarterfinals
There the Martino team will either face MLS rivals FC Cincinnati, who failed to win the main round in the conference finals last year against eventual champions Columbus Crew, or Mexican leaders CF Monterrey. This goes into the second leg at home (Friday, 3:15 a.m. CET) with a 1-0 lead.
The winner of the CONCACAF Champions Cup will qualify for the new Club World Cup, which will be held in the USA in 2025 with a completely overhauled format and for which FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, among others, have already bought their ticket.