Inter Miami Falls Short in First Leg Against Monterrey, Why Lionel Messi Remains Sidelined

Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami suffered a narrow defeat against Monterrey in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match. Notably, Miami’s star player Lionel Messi remained sidelined due to an injury.

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Defender Tomas Aviles helped Inter Miami take an early lead. Unfortunately, they failed to hold onto the lead after a red card to David Ruiz. This red card forced Miami to play with 10 men for a significant portion of the second half.  Monterrey seized the opportunity, with Maximilliano and Jorge Rodriguez scoring one goal each to secure the victory for the Mexican side.

However, the biggest talking point of the match was undoubtedly the absence of Lionel Messi. The World Cup winning captain has been battling a right hamstring injury. He hasn’t played any match for Inter Miami since March 13.  Although, there were hopes of his return after a three-match absence, unfortunately, he remained on the sidelines.

Tomás Avilés scores for Inter Miami vs. Monterrey!pic.twitter.com/Ntpng1fjzp

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) April 4, 2024

The match started brightly for Monterrey, with the Mexican side creating several early chances. However, Inter Miami took the lead in the 20th minute. Midfielder Julian Gressel whipped in a stunning corner, which Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Vazquez could only tip out for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, defender Aviles rose highest to head the ball home, giving the home side a surprising advantage.

The visitors kept pressing for the equalizer, and their efforts almost paid off midway through the second half. A controversial moment came in the match when Inter Miami midfielder David Ruiz received a second yellow card for an elbow to the face of an opponent. This red card proved to be a turning point in the match.

Playing with a numerical disadvantage, Inter Miami found it difficult to maintain control of the game. Monterrey capitalized on their extra man advantage, with Meza equalizing for the visitors in the 69th minute after a scramble from a corner. With just minutes remaining, Jorge Rodriguez unleashed a stunning curler from outside the box that sealed the victory for the Mexican team.

The 1-2 defeat puts Inter Miami in a difficult position heading into the second leg in Monterrey next week. While not impossible, they will need a much-improved performance, especially in defense, to overturn the deficit and progress to the next round.

The absence of Lionel Messi was undeniably a major blow for Inter Miami. His creativity and goalscoring mastery were sorely missed, particularly in the second half when the team was under pressure. Inter Miami’s assistant coach, Javier Morales, had expressed hope for Messi’s return.

The return leg is scheduled for April 10th in Mexico. Inter Miami will need a significant turnaround in performance, along with a potential return from injury for Lionel Messi, if they are to overcome Monterrey and advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.