Columbus Crew Stun Inter Miami to Advance in Leagues Cup as Messi Sits Out

In a thrilling Leagues Cup clash, the Columbus Crew pulled off a sensational comeback to defeat the reigning champions, Inter Miami, 3-2, securing their spot in the semifinals. Despite the absence of Lionel Messi, who is still recovering from an ankle injury, Miami looked dominant for much of the match but ultimately fell short against a resilient Columbus side.

Miami opened the scoring early, with Paraguayan winger Matias Rojas finding the back of the net just 10 minutes in. The Herons maintained control and extended their lead in the 63rd minute with a goal from Diego Gomez. However, the tide turned quickly in the second half as Columbus mounted a remarkable response.

Within just seven minutes, Columbus erased Miami’s two-goal lead. Christian Ramirez headed home in the 67th minute, followed by a powerful strike from Diego Rossi two minutes later, leveling the match. With momentum on their side, Rossi sealed the win for Columbus with his second goal in the 81st minute, completing the stunning comeback.

The victory marked another significant achievement for Wilfried Nancy's Crew, who continue to define themselves as a force to be reckoned with under his leadership. For Inter Miami, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially in the absence of their star player, Messi. This was the second time this year that Miami faced Columbus without Messi, who has been sidelined since July 14th due to an ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final.

Miami's journey in the Leagues Cup has been challenging without their captain. After winning the inaugural Leagues Cup last season with Messi leading the charge, they entered this year's tournament with high expectations. Despite the setback of missing their star player, Miami managed to secure two wins in the group stage, including a dramatic 4-3 victory over Toronto FC, even after going down to 10 men. However, their hopes of defending their title were dashed by the resilient Columbus Crew.

As the Crew advance to the semifinals, the question remains whether Messi will return in time to help Miami in their MLS campaign. For now, Columbus will savor their hard-fought victory, while Miami is left to regroup and hope for Messi's swift recovery.