Inter Miami are heading to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after thrashing Nashville in the second leg of their round of 16 clash at Chase Stadium.
It was the usual suspects on the scoresheet for Miami in a 3-1 win, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Robert Taylor all netting in the 5-3 aggregate victory.
Unfortunately for Tata Martino’s side, though, it wasn’t all plain sailing on the night, with Messi heading off on just 50 minutes – sparking injury fears ahead of the international break.
The David Beckham-owned franchise head to Washington to play DC United this weekend, before Messi and Co head to their national teams and away from MLS.
Overall though, it will go down as a good night’s work for Miami, who eased to victory in front of an energic crowd in South Florida.
Suarez scores past Joe Willis to help Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over MLS rivals Nashville SC
Robert Taylor only came on after 50 minutes but managed to get himself on the scoresheet too
After coming from 2-0 down to snatch a 2-2 draw in the 95th minute in the first leg, there were no such concerns on Wednesday night.
Suarez continued his fine form in the pink of Inter Miami to open the scoring just eight minutes in, collecting a pass from Messi to poke past the keeper.
Messi was on the scoresheet a few minutes later, when he collected a pass from Diego Gomez, before firing past the goalkeeper and into the right-hand side of the net.
Messi played 50 minutes of the game, and scored the second goal of Inter Miami’s three
The Argentina superstar sparked fans’ fears when he was substituted after just 50 minutes
Inter Miami are now through to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup
After the break, Taylor replaced Messi on 50 minutes and got a goal himself, directing a beautifully-weighted Suarez cross into the top corner.
In injury time, Sam Surridge pulled one back for Nashville, but it is Inter Miami and their star-studded roster that march on to the next round of the competition.
The fans will hope, though, that Messi’s knock isn’t anything too serious.
