Inter Miami were supposed to be among the favorites for a CONCACAF Champions Cup they pledged to win, but their Nashville loss is a total embarrassment.
Argentina teammates Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were not included in Javier Mascherano’s matchday squad for Inter Miami’s road clash with Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. Neither player is injured, and both were reportedly rested ahead of Miami’s second-leg meeting with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Despite the Vancouver Whitecaps' 3-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Thomas Muller remains committed to their continental aspirations. The Canadian team had a hard time stopping their MLS rivals, and the Bayern Munich legend played the whole 90 minutes. To reach the quarter-finals, they face a significant challenge in the second leg.
Inter Miami were forced to settle for a frustrating scoreless draw with Nashville SC in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup last 16 tie. Neither side created much, and Lionel Messi was kept surprisingly quiet in a poor fixture between two sides that looked more eager not to lose. The two teams combined for just five shots on target over the course of 90 minutes.
Lionel Messi is poised to be rested by Inter Miami at some stage in the not too distant future, with the MLS Cup winners eager to avoid making a “big mistake” while chasing down multiple trophies. The Herons are eager to successfully defend their domestic crown in the United States, while continental silverware is up for grabs in Champions Cup and Leagues Cup competition.
The LA Galaxy’s upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup clash has been plunged into chaos following a major visa dispute involving their opponents, Mount Pleasant. The Jamaican side is facing the prospect of traveling to California without a significant portion of their senior squad after the U.S. State Department denied entry documents for several key players, including six Haitian nationals who are currently facing strict entry policies.
Cavan Sullivan scored two and added two assists as the Philadelphia Union breezed past Trinidadian side Defence Force FC, 7-0 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The American has now assisted in two of his last three games and contributed to five of the Union's goals in a comprehensive 12-0 aggregate win to secure qualification to the next round of the tournament.