Lionel Messi continued his goal-scoring magic as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday, sealing a 4-1 aggregate win to advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16.
Fresh off his decisive goal in the first leg, Messi wasted no time making an impact in the return match at Chase Stadium. In the 19th minute, his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez lofted a precise pass, allowing Messi to fire a clinical shot into the bottom corner, leaving Sporting’s defense stunned.
Kansas City thought they had equalized through Dejan Joveljic, but the forward was ruled offside after rounding Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
As halftime approached, Miami doubled their lead when Messi set up Jordi Alba down the left flank. Alba delivered a pinpoint low cross that Tadeo Allende finished from close range. Moments later, a defensive blunder by Jacob Davis gifted Suárez a golden opportunity, and the Uruguayan striker made no mistake, volleying the ball into the net to put Miami up 3-0.
Kansas City managed a consolation goal in the 63rd minute when Memo Rodríguez’s long-range effort deflected off Maximiliano Falcón, wrong-footing Ustari.
With the win, Miami advances to face Caribbean Cup champions Cavalier SC from Jamaica in the next round, with the first leg set to take place in Florida in early March.
