Inter Miami Advances to Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals with 2-0 Victory Over Cavalier FC

Inter Miami CF secured their place in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Cavalier FC in the second leg of their Round of 16 matchup at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The win sealed a dominant 4-0 aggregate triumph for the South Florida club, as goals from Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi propelled them to the next stage of the competition.


The match began as a balanced affair, with both teams probing for opportunities. Early chances fell to Inter Miami, with Suárez firing a volley just wide in the 12th minute and Maxi Falcón and Sergio Busquets nearly converting in the 14th minute. However, it was in the 37th minute that the breakthrough came. A foul on Tadeo Allende inside the box earned Miami a penalty, and Suárez stepped up to the spot with confidence. The veteran striker made no mistake, slotting the ball into the lower left corner to extend his tally to three goals in the 2025 Champions Cup campaign.


In the second half, head coach Javier Mascherano introduced Messi in the 53rd minute, marking his return to action after a three-game absence due to load management concerns. The Argentine legend received a rapturous welcome from the crowd at Kingston’s National Stadium, and he did not disappoint.

Messi delivered his trademark magic in stoppage time. Academy product Santiago Morales, making a notable impact as a second-half substitute, provided a line-splitting assist to Messi inside the box. With his signature precision, Messi finished with a first-time left-footed shot, sealing the 2-0 win and tallying his second goal of the Champions Cup campaign.


Beyond the attacking firepower, Inter Miami showcased defensive solidity. Goalkeeper Óscar Ustari recorded his second consecutive clean sheet in the tournament, anchoring a disciplined backline featuring Ian Fray, Maxi Falcón, Noah Allen, and Jordi Alba. Meanwhile, Federico Redondo, Busquets, and Telasco Segovia controlled the midfield, ensuring Miami dictated the tempo.

Miami was forced into an early adjustment after David Ruiz suffered an injury in the 17th minute, leading to Benjamin Cremaschi’s introduction. However, the team adapted seamlessly and maintained control throughout the match.

Following the match, Mascherano praised his squad’s performance:

“I’m happy with the level that we showed today. I think we took a step forward. We felt comfortable on the pitch and were able to control their counterattack, which was the key to the match.”

With the victory, Inter Miami advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face LAFC. The first leg of the highly anticipated matchup will be played in Los Angeles between April 1-3, while the return leg will take place at Chase Stadium between April 8-10.

Before turning their focus back to the Champions Cup, Miami will resume MLS action with a road match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, March 16, at 7 p.m. ET.

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