2024-03-14 03:51:36
Star players Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez helped Inter Miami advance to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite leaving the field prematurely due to a leg injury, Messi was the difference with Suárez in this second leg, which secured a 5-3 victory on aggregate goals. The two teams drew 2-2 in the first leg at GEODIS Park.
The legends’ imprint was felt from the start, when Messi set up Suárez’s goal in the eighth minute. Messi’s preparation paved the way for Suárez, who took advantage of a large space in the net protected by Joe Willis.
Messi found the back of the net in the 23rd minute with a left-footed strike following a superb run from teammate Diego Gómez who created the chance.
Suárez, for his part, set up Robert Taylor’s stab in the 63rd minute, making it 3-0.
Miami will face FC Cincinnati or CF Monterrey in the next round in April.
Nashville scored a desperation goal in the 93rd minute through Sam Surridge.
Messi injured in one leg
Messi left in the 50th minute. After the match, head coach Gerardo Martino said that his player was suffering from a slight leg injury that started bothering him during the game, so Inter Miami took him out of the match as a preventative measure.
Messi did not face CF Montreal in his team’s 3-2 defeat last Sunday. It was the only match Messi had not played this season.
Martino said the Argentine star will likely miss his team’s regular season game Saturday against DC United.
“I don’t want to take that risk,” Martino said. He added that Messi will undergo medical tests and the team will assess the situation afterwards.
Robert Taylor took Messi’s place in the match and scored in the 63rd minute to make it 3-0.
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