Inter Miami vs Monterrey HIGHLIGHTS, CONCACAF Champions Cup 2024 quarterfinal: Meza, Rodriguez help MON beat Lionel Messi’s MIA 2-1 after Ruiz sees red

​

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami falls short despite early lead against Monterrey in CONCACAF Champions Cup clash

Inter Miami, missing the star power of Lionel Messi due to a hamstring injury, suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Mexican giants Monterrey in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2024 quarterfinal on Thursday at the Chase Stadium in Florida.

Victory for Monterrey in Vice city. Lionel Messi’s side goes down despite leading at half time. Ruiz’s red card changed the complexion of the game. Meza and Rodriguez scored for the Mexican side. The two sides will meet again in the second leg next week in Mexico. 

Five minutes added on after the end of regulation time. 

Jorge Rodriguez score a stunner from outside the box. Cortizo makes his way to the box with his trickery but the ball was cleared by Miami defenders but they gave it away on the edge of the box and Jorge Rodriguez takes a touch to settle himself and unleashed a right footed curler that rifles into the back of the net. 

Rodriguez gets yellow and will miss the second leg. Suarez with his antics, he kick a free kick straight to the defensive midfielder and claims it was a deliberate obstruction. 

10 men Miami keeps the tie alive while Monterrey is gunning for a win. Cortizo and Canales are the dangerman for the David Beckham owned team. 

Busquets gets a yellow for dissent. Its another set piece situation for Monterrey on the edge of the box. Inter Miami players and fans are extremely frustrated with the referee. Callender keeps Miami in the game with an excellent save from Canales’ free-kick. 

Meza scores the equaliser and the much-needed away goal is here for Monterrey. It come after a flurry of attack. Meza scores after Callender makes a save from the corner. VAR check is going on. The goal stands. Its 1-1. GAME ON!!! 

Monterrey gets yet another corner. The Mexican side is causing all sorts of problem for the MLS outfit with their pace. Ruiz gets the second yellow of the match for an raised elbow on the face of an opponent. Ruiz is sent off. Miami down to 10 men. 

Suarez earns a free-kick on the edge of the box. The Uruguayan striker has been brilliant with his link-up play throughout the match but his finishing has been disappointing. He takes the free kick which penetrates the wall but goes wide. 

Ruiz comes close but Vasquez saves his effort from close range. Monterrey goes on counter and draws two crucial blocks from Freire and Aviles. The Mexican side is slowly finding its groove in the second half. 

The home side makes a fast start to the second half. Good understanding from Suarez and Gressel. The former Barca player takes a shot from the edge of the box which was blocked and then combines with Gressel to create another chance which was once again denied. 

The second half is under way. Monterrey kicks off the the final 45 minute of this quarterfinal first leg tie. 

The opening 45 minutes of this quarterfinal first leg encounter comes to an end. Monterrey started well but Alives’s headed from a corner gave Inter Miami the lead against the run of play on 19th minute. 

Monterrey’s Gallardo is cautioned by the referee after his clumsy challenge on Jordi Alba. Miami came close again to extend its lead via Leo Alfonso, whose shot from inside the box was saved by Cellender. Suarez, Alba combined to find Alfonso in space. 

Suarez’s deflected shot is saved by Vasquez. It was a brilliant ball from Ruiz to find Suarez on the right flank in space. Three minutes added after the end of regulation time.

Ruiz gets a yellow card for dissent after Jordi Alba’s challenge on Meza on the edge of Miami’s box. 

Monterrey gets the second corner after an attempted cross from Meza is deflected out by Alba. Miami goes on a corner from the corner but failed to take advantage in the final third. 

Taylor, Suarez and Gressel are combining well. Miami came close to extending their lead via Taylor but a resilient Monterrey defence stood firm. Taylor is holding his hamstring and is being taken out. Leo Alfonso is coming out as substitute. 

Gomez, Busquets and Ruiz are finding their groove in the midfield as Miami starts to dominate the ball. Monterrey is pressing well but the Miami keeps hold of the ball. Gomez becomes the first player to get into referee’s book for his late challenge on Meza. 

Miami snatched the goal against the run of the play and it gave confident to the MLS side. Monterrey looks a bit shock after conceding the goal despite a bright start to the match. Suarez and Gressel are combining well for the home side now.

Gressel’s chip from a tight angle was tipped out for a corner by Monterrey goalkeeper Vazquez. From the resulting set piece, Inter Miami defender Aviles heads home. The Herons takes the lead in this crucial quarterfinal tie. 

Monterrey takes yet another shot on goal and Inter Miami is just somehow digging in. It has been a very good start from the visiting side. Canales and Vasquez are combining well up top for the Mexican side, while Suarez is the only bright spot for Inter Miami. 

Both teams are going all out in attack. Monterrey got the best chance of the match so far but the home side is is also threatening via ex Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. 

The visitors take the first shot on target of the match. Miami goalkeeper Callender makes a smart save to keep the home side alive. Monterrey gets the first corner of the match. Miami counters from the corner with Suarez and Busquets combining but they lacked the final pass. The Mexican side also comes out with their own counter. There is a very good tempo to the match in the initial minutes. 

The first leg of CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal tie between Inter Miami and Monterrey kicks-off with the Herons playing without their talisman Lionel Messi, who misses out with an injury. 

Players are on the pitch, LIVE action next. Stay tuned. 

Vasquez, Gallardo, Canales, Meza, Rodriguez, Romo, Arteaga, Moreno, Guzman, Aguirre, Andrada
​

​​

Miami head coach Martino is not expected to have the services of his captain and star player Messi against DC United as the Argentinian recovers from a leg injury. However, no confirmation regarding the World Cup winner’s availability was discussed by the club.

The former Barcelona star was pictured at training ahead of the match. It is expected that he will make an appearance today. 

The CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals kick off on Thursday early morning for fans in India. The Lionel Messi-led team will take on Mexican side Monterrey at home in Chase Stadium in Florida.

Under manager Gerardo Martino, Inter Miami secured its place in the last eight with a hard-fought 5-3 aggregate victory over Nashville SC. A 2-2 draw away in the first leg was followed by a convincing 3-1 win at home to seal the deal.

Meanwhile, Monterrey, managed by Fernando Ortiz, arrives in Florida after a disappointing 0-2 defeat against Chivas de Guadalajara in their most recent LIGA MX Clausura match.

Read the full preview here.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal first leg match between Inter Miami vs Monterrey to be played at the Chase Stadium in Florida on Thursday.