Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup Title Defense Ends in Meltdown Defeat to Columbus Crew

Inter Miami CF saw their Leagues Cup title defense come to a dramatic end, losing 3-2 to Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field. The game ended in disappointment as the reigning MLS Cup champions mounted a stunning comeback to secure their place in the quarterfinals.

The match started well for Inter Miami, who were without their star player Lionel Messi due to an ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa América victory. Despite Messi’s absence, Miami looked dangerous from the outset, with Matías Rojas opening the scoring in the 10th minute. A well-timed cross from Luis Suárez set up Rojas, who headed the ball past Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, giving Miami an early 1-0 lead.

As the first half concluded, Miami seemed poised for a comfortable victory. Their momentum continued into the second half when Diego Gómez doubled the lead in the 62nd minute. A brilliant give-and-go between Gómez and Suárez resulted in a curling shot from Gómez that found the back of the net, putting Miami ahead 2-0 and seemingly on the path to the quarterfinals.

However, the tide quickly turned in favor of the home side. Just five minutes after Miami’s second goal, Christian Ramírez sparked the Columbus comeback with a close-range finish in the 67th minute. Barely two minutes later, Diego Rossi leveled the score with a strike that stunned the visitors. Rossi wasn’t finished, as he delivered the final blow in the 80th minute, netting his second goal of the match to complete the Crew’s comeback and secure a 3-2 victory.

Inter Miami fought valiantly in the closing stages, but Columbus held firm to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face New York City FC. For Miami, the loss marked the end of their Leagues Cup journey and a chance to reflect on a tournament filled with both promise and frustration.

Head coach Tata Martino reflected on the team’s performance with a mix of pride and disappointment, stating, “When one observes how the team competes today against Columbus, the reality is that one cannot help but be very satisfied with the way in which we can stand in the home of the last champion, in a team that was also a Concacaf Champions finalist.” Despite the loss, Martino emphasized the progress made by his team and the focus on future goals, including the upcoming MLS season.

Inter Miami will now turn their attention to the MLS regular season, with a critical match against FC Cincinnati on August 24. As they regroup, the team will hope for a swift recovery for Messi and aim to bounce back stronger as they chase their next title.

Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our NIL athletes and partnered brands