Lionel Messi Leads Inter Miami to Concacaf Champions Cup Last 16

Image credits: © AFP, Gallo Images

Lionel Messi was on target again as Inter Miami surged into the Concacaf Champions Cup last 16 with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday, winning the tie 4-1 on aggregate. Messi scored in the 1-0 first-leg win in icy Kansas City last week and it took him only 19 minutes to find the target at a much warmer Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale in the return. The Argentine star's goal was a result of a well-executed play, where his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez chipped the ball across to him, and he was given too much space by the Sporting defence, punishing them by burying the ball into the bottom corner.

The visitors thought that they had levelled when Dejan Joveljic, a recent signing from Los Angeles Galaxy, had the ball in the net after rounding Miami keeper Oscar Ustari, but the striker was ruled offside. Miami doubled their advantage in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when Messi sent Jordi Alba down the left and the Spaniard's low cross was turned in from close range by Tadeo Allende. Miami made it 3-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate two minutes later when a dreadful miskicked clearance from Jacob Davis flew across his own area and Suarez hooked the bouncing ball into the corner. The Concacaf Champions Cup has been an exciting tournament so far, with many teams competing for the top spot.

Kansas City got a goal back in the 63rd minute when Memo Rodriguez's long-range effect deflected off the back of Maximiliano Falcon and past the wrong-footed Ustari. Despite the goal, Miami's lead was too much for Kansas City to overcome, and they secured their spot in the last 16. Miami will face Jamaican club Cavalier, the Caribbean Cup champions, in the next round with the first leg to be played in Florida in the first week of March. The Champions Cup is a prestigious tournament, and Miami will need to bring their A-game if they want to advance further.

Here are the match scores:

• Inter Miami 3, Sporting Kansas City 1
• Aggregate score: Inter Miami 4, Sporting Kansas City 1

The win was a significant one for Miami, and they will look to build on this momentum as they move forward in the tournament. With Messi leading the charge, Miami has a good chance of making a deep run in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

In conclusion, Inter Miami's victory over Sporting Kansas City was an impressive one, and they have secured their spot in the last 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup. With their strong team and talented players like Messi, they have a good chance of advancing further in the tournament. The Concacaf Champions Cup is an exciting tournament, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how the rest of the competition unfolds.

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