In the hours before kickoff, the rumors began on social media. Lionel Messi, who had earmarked Wednesday's clash with Monterrey as a potential return date, was out. Inter Miami's squad announcement 60 minutes before kickoff confirmed the news. Nightmare.
To be fair, the Herons nearly survived without him. In the end, though, Messi's absence was felt as the South Beach MLS club threw away the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Monterrey.
Playing at home, Inter Miami fell 2-1 with a David Ruiz dismissal leading to their undoing. Up 1-0 thanks to a Tomas Aviles goal, Ruiz's 65th-minute sending off was the turning point, the opening Monterrey needed to wake them up.
Just four minutes after being reduced to 10 men, Monterrey were level - Maxi Meza the scorer, pouncing on the ball in the box to make it 1-1.
From there, there was little doubt about how this would end. Miami had to survive the incoming tidal wave, but they couldn't quite do it. Jorge Rodriguez's 88th-minute curled finish from range earned Monterrey a win, and a significant advantage heading into the second leg.
Will Messi play in that one? We'll find out soon enough, but Wednesday was a catastrophic turn of events heading into leg two.
GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium...
