Messi, Inter Miami knocked out of CONCACAF Champions Cup

Inter Miami bounced by Monterrey from CONCACAF Champions Cup. What's next for Messi?

It had the potential to be Lionel Messi’s biggest match with Inter Miami. Instead, it turned into their worst match together.

Messi and Inter Miami barely had an answer – even after the soap opera of drama they found themselves in with LIGA MX powerhouse Monterrey during this Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal.

The first leg was about the feisty locker room complaint. The second leg saw Monterrey destroy Messi and Inter Miami in Mexico.

Monterrey scored three goals, including two early in the second half, to win 3-1 at BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday night, ending Inter Miami’s hope to win a second championship in the Messi era.

Monterrey advances to the semifinals of the Champions Cup, and will face the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew, which beat Tigres UANL in comeback fashion Tuesday. The Crew is the only MLS team remaining in the tournament.

How did Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 in Champions Cup second leg?

Messi left fans with a glimpse of his greatness, assisting on a header goal by Diego Gomez off a free kick. But the score came in the 85th minute of the match, long after the quarterfinal was decided.

Inter Miami fell behind 1-0 early after goalie Drake Callender’s lazy clearance found former MLS standout Brandon Vazquez, who quickly found the back of the net for Monterrey in the 31st minute.

Germán Berterame scored in the 58th minute and Jesús Gallardo scored on a header goal in the 64th minute to seal the match, and the quarterfinal, early in the second half.

“It’s disappointing to lose here and go out of the competition,” Inter Miami’s Julian Gressel said after the game. “We know Monterrey was a good team and a tough opponent. They played really well, and we made some mistakes that cost us.”

Added Martino: "I believe what took us out of the game was the second goal 15 minutes into the second half. At that time, we were eliminated."

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