Inter Miami has been eliminated from the Concacaf Champions League after losing in the second leg of the quarterfinals 3-1 against Rayados de Monterrey (5-2 on aggregate), in a match where they ended up expelled Jordi Alba received a double yellow card and where Messi was once again a starter, after overcoming his physical problems. ‘Tata’ Martino’s team was surpassed from start to finish in the tie, since in the first leg they also succumbed to the Mexicans.
The first moments of the game were dominated by the herons, who, despite not having clear dangerous chances, controlled the ball with some ease. Monterrey, with the score favorable after the first leg, accepted that role, waiting for a possible counterattack that would put their place in the semifinals in their sights.
However, the Mexicans’ goal came from an error in the ball exit by Callender, Inter Miami’s goalkeeper. The goalkeeper gave the ball to Brandon Vázquez when the Aztec team player was putting pressure on him. The American soccer player feinted to leave Callender sitting and, with an empty goal, made it 1-0 in the 31st minute.
In the second half the film did not change and the Rayados sealed the tie in the 58th minute, with a great goal from Berterame. The Argentine player was also the protagonist in the third goal, as he filtered a lob pass to Jesús Gallardo, who headed the score 3-0 in the 64th minute.
Frustration took over Inter Miami in the final stretch. Jordi Alba, who had seen yellow in the 74th minute, was sent off three minutes later, after making a late foul out of desperation.
Even so, with one less player, the herons achieved the goal of honor through Diego Gómez, who scored with his head after a good cross from Messi, already recovered from his physical problems.
After the match, ‘Tata’ Martino blamed the MLS for the elimination of Inter Miami: “I maintain that the teams with the best squad in Mexican soccer accessed this instance of the Champions Cup. I’m talking about América, Monterrey and Tigres “I am not putting Pachuca because its structure is built on young players. As long as the MLS does not release rules to have better squads and that absences and injuries can be replaced more easily, there will be an advantage.”
The regulation that the Argentine coach complains about is that the MLS forces teams not to spend freely on the preparation of squads, except for three players who can be paid any amount.
The elimination leaves Inter Miami without the possibility of becoming champion of the Concachampions, a title that it does not yet have in its showcases. Furthermore, the team chaired by David Beckham is left without options to compete in the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States.
Monterrey Stripes: Esteban Andrada; Eric Aguirre, Stefan Medina, Victor Guzman, Gerardo Arteaga; Maximilian Meza (Jordi Cortizo m.80), Luis Romo (Cesar Heron m.85), Sergio Canales (Alfonso Gonzalez m.85), Jesus Gallardo; Germain Berterame and Brandon Vasquez (Omar Govea m.76).
Inter Miami: Drake Callender; Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Niclás Freire, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba; Julián Gressel, Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez; Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi.
Goals: 1-0, m.31: Brando Vázquez. 2-0, m.58: Germán Berterame. 3-0, m.64: Jesús Gallardo. 3-1, m.85: Diego Gómez.
Referee: Iván Barton, from El Salvador. He booked Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Stefan Medina. He expelled Jordi Alba.
Incidents: Second leg of the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, played at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, in northern Mexico.
