World champion Lionel Messi and his strike partner Luis Suarez led Inter Miami to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. As in the first leg (2:2), the two superstars also scored in the second leg of the round of 16 against Nashville SC and were instrumental in the 3-1 win.
The winner of the competition, which until last season was called the CONCACAF Champions League, qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Messi prepared Suarez’s opening goal for Miami (8th) before he scored himself (23rd). The Argentine limped off the field with a thigh problem at the start of the second half, but Inter’s coach Gerardo Martino spoke afterwards of a precautionary measure.
Especially since Messi’s replacement Robert Taylor made it 3-0 13 minutes after he came on (63′). The goal conceded in stoppage time by Sam Surridge (90+3) was no longer significant.
In the first leg, Messi and Suarez, who had already shone together during their time at FC Barcelona, brought their team back from a 2-0 deficit with their goals. In the quarterfinals, Miami will face the winner of the game between the Mexicans from Monterrey and the MLS club FC Cincinnati.