International Soccer
Inter Miami missed Messi: Monterrey gains advantage in the first leg of the quarterfinals
Without Lionel Messi, Inter Miami lost at home once morest Monterrey and will look for a comeback at the BBVA stadium in Mexico on Wednesday, April 10.
Maximiliano Meza of Monterrey celebrates his goal that tied the match once morest Inter Miami. (Free Press Photo: AFP)
Inter Miami lost this April 3 in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup once morest Monterrey and is on the verge of being eliminated from the competition. For the American team, Tomás Avilés scored in the 18th minute and in the second half Argentine Maximiliano Meza equalized the score and Jorge Rodríguez completed the royal comeback.
This score is favorable for Monterrey since they will face the second leg with an advantage. This duel is scheduled for April 10.
Inter Miami might not count on its star, the Argentine Lionel Messi, injured since March 13. In the press conference one day before the game, the coach of the team the heronsGerardo Martino indicated that the man from Rosario was progressing well in his recovery and did not rule out seeing him once morest Monterrey, but finally the decision was to save him and possibly be present for the return.
The clash between Inter Miami and Monterrey was one of the most anticipated by football fans in the region: the 20-year-old and former defender of Racing in Argentina, Tomás Avilés shot goalkeeper Esteban Andrada following a corner kick in the 19th minute and made it 1-0.
In the rest of the first half, Inter had some more options, but they were not able to beat goalkeeper Andrada once more. In the second half, Monterrey tried to equalize the score, and although the home team might have scored another goal, it was finally Monterrey that found the net.
The player dressed in pink David Ruiz was sent off in the 64th minute and from that moment on the night fell for Inter Miami.
Six minutes following Ruiz was sent off, the Mexican team approached the area and achieved the tie thanks to a timely appearance by Maximiliano Meza. The Argentine player took advantage of a rebound from Callender and following a VAR check, the goal went up on the scoreboard.
From that play onwards, the entire game went through what Monterrey proposed and in the 89th minute, Jorge Rodríguez made it 1-2 with a great goal from mid-distance.
His shot adjusted to the angle was too much for Callender who might do little to prevent the royal comeback.
Finally the match ended 1-2 and the task will be for Inter Miami in the return leg at the BBVA Stadium to be played on Wednesday, April 10. For this match, the MLS team hopes to have Lionel Messi and dream of a comeback.
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