In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lionel Messi's absence loomed large as Inter Miami faced off against Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, with the Argentine superstar sidelined due to a lingering hamstring injury. Despite starting strong and securing a one-goal lead, Inter Miami faltered in the second half, ultimately succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in the first leg of the encounter.
Messi, who has been sidelined for four consecutive matches due to his right hamstring injury, last featured in action on March 13. His absence from Inter Miami's lineup extended to international duty as well, as he missed Argentina's recent friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica, further exacerbating concerns about his recovery timeline.
With uncertainty shrouding Messi's return, Inter Miami now faces a crucial period with the second leg of the quarterfinal clash against Monterrey scheduled in Mexico on April 10, followed by an upcoming MLS fixture against Colorado on Saturday.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino acknowledged Messi's ongoing rehabilitation, emphasizing a cautious approach to his reintroduction into the squad, indicating that his availability will be assessed on a game-by-game basis.
Despite an encouraging start, Inter Miami's fortunes took a downturn in the latter stages of the match. Monterrey's Jorge RodrÃguez capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 89th minute, delivering a decisive blow with a well-placed shot past goalkeeper Drake Callender, following a miscued pass by Miami's Diego Gómez.
Inter Miami had initially seized the lead in the 19th minute courtesy of Tomas Avilés, who capitalized on a corner kick delivered by Julian Gressel, marking his first goal of the season. However, momentum swung in Monterrey's favor after Miami's David RuÃz received his marching orders, being sent off for a second yellow card in the 65th minute, reducing Inter Miami to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Monterrey wasted no time capitalizing on their numerical advantage, as Maximiliano Meza found the back of the net less than five minutes later, equalizing the score with a composed finish past Callender following a corner kick by Sergio Canales.
Martino lamented his team's dwindling energy levels in the final stages of the match, acknowledging the physical demands posed by Monterrey's relentless pressure. Despite a valiant effort, Inter Miami's resilience faltered in the face of adversity, with Callender making seven saves throughout the match, while Monterrey's Esteban Andrada registered one save.
Inter Miami's woes were compounded by injuries, with Robert Taylor forced off the pitch in the 36th minute after sustaining a leg injury, further denting their hopes of mounting a comeback in the second leg.
No comments:
Post a Comment