Monterrey eliminates Lionel Messi, Inter Miami from Champions Cup soccer tourney - UPI.com (2024)

Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi reacts after a loss to Monterrey in the second-leg of a 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal Wednesday in Guadalupe, Mexico. Photo by Miguel Sierra/EPA-EFE

"In the first half, we did very well," Herons manager Tata Martino told reporters. "We needed a little bit more depth, but we had control of the ball for quite a bit.

"We knew they would go to the space. ... We were lacking some depth to manage them. But, I believe it was fair that Monterrey went through."

More than 53,000 fans attended. Messi, who is dealing with a lingering hamstring injury, made his first start since March 13.

Monterrey will face the Columbus Crew in the first leg of a Champions Cup semifinal April 23 in Columbus, Ohio. The Crew beat Mexican club Tigres 4-3 in a penalty kick session in the second leg of their quarterfinal Tuesday in San Nicolas, Mexico.

Vazquez put the Rayados ahead in the 31st minute of Wednesday's match, capitalizing off a Herons blunder. Herons goalie Drake Callender received a pass from defender Tomas Aviles to start that sequence. He then attempted to make another pass to his left, but Vazquez intercepted the feed.

The striker finished the play with a shot inside the near post. The Rayados led 1-0 at halftime and doubled the advantage in the 58th minute.

Left back Gerardo Arteaga tracked down a long pass on the left flank to set up that score. He then fired a pass to his right, finding Berterame. The Rayados striker tapped the ball down, touched it to his right and ripped a shot past a diving Callender.

Gallardo scored a third goal in the 64th minute. Berterame assisted that score, which was triggered by another Herons defensive lapse. Gomez attempted a clearance during the play, but Gallardo blocked the kick. The ball then bounced to Berterame, who chipped a pass into the box. Gallardo ran into the area and used his head to flick a shot inside the right post.

A few minutes later, midfielder Jordi Alba received two yellow cards within a 5-minute span, forcing the Herons to play with 10 men.

Despite playing a man down, Messi went on to assist Gomez for the final goal of the night in the 85th minute.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner sent in a deep free kick to start that sequence. The ball sailed into the box. Gomez then hovered into the area, jumped and headed a a shot into the right side of the net.

The Herons will continue their MLS season against Sporting Kansas City (2-1-4) of the Western Conference at 8:30 p.m. EDT Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. They currently sit in third place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, with a 3-2-3 record through eight league matches.

The Rayados will face Tigres in a Liga MX match Saturday in Guadalupe. The winner of the Monterrey-Crew semifinal will meet Club America or Pachuca, both of Liga MX, on June 2 in the Champions Cup finale.