Concacaf Champions Cup: Messi, Suárez stun Nashville; Vázquez nets winner in Cincinnati return
Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez scored in the second half to assist Inter Miami overcome a two-goal deficit and go away Nashville with a 2-2 tie in the primary leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup spherical of 16 collection.
Messi, who led the Herons previous the hosts in final yr’s Leagues Cup last win that certified Miami for this match, began the comeback that his former Barcelona sidekick Suárez accomplished with an exciting stoppage time equalizer:
Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez nails a header in stoppage time to even the rating towards Nashville SC
The decisive match of the 2 sport, total-goals-wins matchup might be performed subsequent Wednesday in South Florida.
In Thursday’s first Champions Cup match, Mexican powerhouse Monterrey survived a second half crimson card and held on for a 1-0 win over MLS facet FC Cincinnati. U.S. nationwide crew striker Brandon Vázquez scored the sport winner for the Rayodos towards his former membership.
Here are three fast ideas on Thursday’s thrilling doubleheader.
Messi, Suárez lead Miami’s comeback
The final time the GOAT was in Tennessee, he was boarding a constitution flight again to Miami with the membership’s first trophy in tow.
Nashville got here out Thursday decided to precise revenge for that indignity, and the hosts had been properly on their means thanks to 2 very good objectives by Canadian winger Jacob Shaffelburg early in every half. The second was notably well-taken:
Jacob Shaffelburg delivers a FEROCIOUS strike to offer Nashville SC a 2-0 lead over Inter Miami
Miami, which was with out veteran fullback Jordi Alba due to sickness however welcomed blue chip Argentine debutant Federico Redondo, was hanging on for expensive life at that time. Then, proper on cue, Messi made one thing out of nothing when he took a move from Suárez and pulled again the primary of what may very well be two very important away objectives:
Lionel Messi scores a CLINCIAL objective towards Nashville SC
The guests dodged a bullet when what regarded like a 3rd by Nashville was dominated offside by the video assistant referee. A couple of minutes later, the Herons had been one way or the other on even phrases. And they’ve to love their probabilities of ending the job in Ft. Lauderdale subsequent week and persevering with the search for an much more spectacular piece of silverware this spring.
Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF CONCACAF Champions Cup Highlights | FOX Soccer
Vázquez performs the hero … and the villain
It was all hugs and smiles as Brandon Vázquez greeted his ex-FC Cincinnati teammates on the handshake line simply earlier than his Monterrey kicked off Thursday’s first leg towards FCC at TQL Stadium in Ohio.
Once the match started, it did not take lengthy for the U.S. males’s nationwide crew striker to punish his associates and his former membership with what might find yourself being a deadly blow:
The twenty fourth minute strike stood up. And whereas Vázquez — who did not have a good time his objective out of respect for the followers who used to cheer him — got here near including one other with a header that FCC keeper Roman Celentano saved simply earlier than halftime, the away objective provides the Rayodos a major benefit heading into the second leg at Estadio BBVA on March 14.
That most likely does not sit properly with too many FCC supporters. Even those who understood the membership’s resolution to money in on Vázquez this winter most likely did not financial institution on the 25-year-old serving to finish their Champions League run earlier than it ever actually obtained began.
Daunting journeys to Mexico await three MLS groups
There had been three MLS-Liga MX matchups in the entrance half of the spherical of 16, all hosted by groups from the previous. MLS gained none of them. The first two, Philadelphia Union-Pachuca and Orlando City-Tigres, completed scoreless. Monterrey has a 1-0 combination lead after the third.
Those outcomes might result in a fast loss of life south of the border, the place American golf equipment nearly by no means emerge victorious. Since 2008, MLS has gained simply three of 43 knockout matches in Mexico. One silver lining: because of the away objectives tiebreaker, a single objective by both Philly or the Lions in the second leg would enable both to advance with a draw. Cincinnati, meantime, should rating in Monterrey to have any likelihood of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer author for FOX Sports. Before becoming a member of FOX Sports in 2021, he was a employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has coated United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at a number of FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami CF
CONCACAF Champions Cup
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