Leagues Cup, Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami knocked out: Details here
Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer (MLS) team co-owned by David Beckham, faced a disappointing defeat in the Leagues Cup's Round of 16. The team was playing without their star player, Lionel Messi, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final. Despite taking an early lead and maintaining a 0-2 advantage late into the game against Columbus Crew in Ohio, Inter Miami couldn't secure victory.
Inter Miami's early lead and subsequent loss
The match began favorably for Inter Miami, with Matias Rojas scoring an early goal from a cross after the offense regained possession in Columbus Crew's territory. This initial success was followed by a second goal from Diego Gomez, assisted by Luis Suarez. However, the tide turned against them when Ramirez scored for Columbus Crew just seven minutes later. Shortly after, Diego Rossi equalized the game at 2-2, marking a significant setback for Inter Miami.
Columbus Crew's comeback and victory
In the remaining 20 minutes of the match, Columbus Crew dominated and created several dangerous opportunities. The winning goal came from Diego Rossi, who had already scored once in the second half. This victory effectively eliminated Inter Miami from further competition in the Leagues Cup. The absence of Lionel Messi was felt deeply in this match, highlighting his integral role to Inter Miami's success on the field.
Messi's injury and impact on Inter Miami
Messi's injury was announced by Gerardo Martino, the head coach of Inter Miami, earlier this week. The Argentine superstar is still recovering from a right ankle injury he sustained during Argentina's 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final. Since removing his walking boot, Messi has not yet returned to training with his Miami teammates. His absence was keenly felt in the Leagues Cup match against Columbus Crew.
Here are the match stats
Columbus made 19 attempts to Miami's 12. The hosts had eight shots on target with Miami managing three. Columbus had 55% ball possession and an 86% pass accuracy. They clocked 546 passes.
