Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi each delivered a goal and an assist as Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1 on Wednesday night to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Both former Barcelona frontmen had also been on target in Tennessee last week when Miami came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in the first leg.
Miami made a much better start in Florida.
SUÁREZ EARLY GOAL FOR INTER MIAMI! pic.twitter.com/JXVzYoF8c2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 14, 2024
The game was less than eight minutes old when a Suarez dummy allowed Messi to collect the ball 30 yards from goal before rolling a perfect pass to the Uruguayan, who beat the keeper with the outside of his right boot.
Captain Messi then scored himself to make it 2-0 midway through the first half with a powerful finish following an impressive run into the box from Diego Gomez.
NOW IT'S MESSI'S TURN!!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 14, 2024
Inter Miami up 4-2 on aggregate! pic.twitter.com/WyyxCwONXp
With his side in a strong position, Miami boss Gerardo Martino opted to give Messi a rest and subbed him off five minutes into the second half.
But Suarez stayed on the field and set up Robert Taylor for Miami's third goal with a fine cross shortly after the hour-mark.
Luis Suarez drops a dime to Robert Taylor. @InterMiamiCF leads 5-2 on aggregate. #ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/dQGhs3mxr8
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 14, 2024
Hany Mukhtar thought he had scored an away goal for Nashville in the 80th minute but a VAR review eventually ruled that he had been offside.
Former Premier League striker Sam Surridge then scored a legitimate goal in added time but Miami still prevailed 5-3 on aggregate and will play either FC Cincinnati or Monterrey in the last eight.
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