Football

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Messi Scores As Inter Miami Beat Sporting Kansas City

ꦐLionel Messi opened the scoring with a masterful strike in the 19th minute, and Inter Miami beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1 on Tuesday night in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup’s first round. Luis Suárez and Tadeo Allende also scored as Inter Miami advanced with a 4-1 aggregate to face Jamaica Premier League champion Cavalier FC in the round of 16 on March 6. Messi also scored in Miami’s 1-0 win at Kansas City in the first leg last Wednesday. Memo Rodríguez scored for Kansas City — the team’s first goal of 2025.

CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Lionel Messi
🔯CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi heads the ball | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

🌼Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi heads the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match against Sporting Kansas City in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Tadeo Allende
ꦛCONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Tadeo Allende drives toward the goal | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

✤Inter Miami forward Tadeo Allende, right, drives toward the goal defended by Sporting Kansas City defender Dany Rosero, during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Javier Mascherano
🔜CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

ꦚInter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano sits on the bench at the start of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match against Sporting Kansas City in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Luis Suarez
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez celebrates his side's third goal | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

ඣInter Miami forward Luis Suarez, center, celebrates with teammates defender Jordi Alba, left, and midfielder Sergio Busquets (5) after scoring his side's third goal against Sporting Kansas City, during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Luis Suarez
𒁃CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez, right, scores a goal | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

ꦦInter Miami forward Luis Suarez, right, scores past Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp (1) and defender Robert Voloder (4) during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Luis Suarez
ꩵCONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez attempts to score | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

♛Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez, center, attempts to score past Sporting Kansas City defender Robert Voloder (4), right, during the second half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Lionel Messi
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's first goal | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

♒Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Sporting Kansas City during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Lionel Messi
ꦇCONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi looks to pass | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

🌱Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) looks to pass, defended by Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jacob Bartlett (16) during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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CONCACAF Champions Cup Sporting KC vs Inter Miami Soccer: Lionel Messi
🦂CONCACAF Champions Cup: Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi heads the ball | Photo: AP/Rebecca Blackwell

🧸Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) heads the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Champions Cup soccer match against Sporting Kansas City in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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