da betcris： Inter Miami advanced to the final eight of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after beating Nashville SC, with both Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi starring.
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Inter Miami advances to CCC final eightDefeats Nashville SC 5-3 on aggregateMessi & Suarez both claim goal and assistGetty ImagesTELL ME MORE
The Herons came out of the gates at Chase Stadium firing and confident in front of their home crowd. Just 13 minutes into the game, their star duo of Messi and Suarez combined to open the scoring, with the Uruguayan netting in clinical fashion. Just 15 minutes later, the Argentine found himself on the scoresheet as well.
Heading out after halftime break with a two-goal advantage, Messi was subbed off with an injury just four minutes into the second half. However, Suarez wasn't finished yet.
The 37-year-old provided a brilliant assist for Finnish winger Robert Taylor in the 64th minute, delivering the ball on a platter to his forehead to make it 3-0. Nashville did earn a consolation goal late in stoppage-time when forward Sam Surridge found the back of the net but it was too little too late for the away side.
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This was the first time Inter Miami have fielded an XI with Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo all on the pitch at the same time. With all five of their superstars available from the start, they seized an early advantage and held onto it until close.
Rich Storry/Getty ImagesTHE MVP
Lionel Messi: A true win-or-go-home performance from the Herons' talisman, Messi put the team on his shoulders while he was on the field. With an assist and a goal of his own in the first half, he showed up after missing Sunday's match to CF Montreal, a 3-2 loss for Inter Miami.
He may have only played 49 minutes in the match, but it was enough to influence the result and hand Miami a terrific advantage to ride through the remainder of the contest after his departure.
THE BIG LOSER
Nashville SC: There's something brewing between these two clubs. Whether it's a rivalry or not is debatable, but Nashville just cannot get past Lionel Messi and co.
First, it was the Leagues Cup final in 2023, where Messi and co. bested them in a penalty shootout. Then, it was a league match just 11 days later that ended in a 0-0 draw; a game they probably should have won.
Now, in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, they drew 2-2 with the Herons in the first leg and fell 3-1 in the return meeting Wednesday. In four fixtures since the Argentine's arrival at South Beach, they have not found a single victory against Inter Miami.