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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Rayados pummel Inter Miami 3-1 (5-2 agg.)</li><li>Herons exit Champions Cup</li><li>Messi blanked in return to starting XI</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crash out of CONCACAF Champions Cup as CF Monterrey pummel Herons in Mexico

Liga MX

Monterrey

Cruz Azul

Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF

DC United

It was a disaster of an evening for the Herons, and all their stars went missing. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were all nowhere to be seen as Rayados pummeled Inter Miami into the ground at BBVA Stadium 3-1 in leg two of their Champions Cup tie to seal a 5-2 aggregate win.It began with a<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/drake-callender-inter-miami-horrific-error-concacaf-champions-cup-cf-monterrey-brandon-vazquez/blt8bef87f81b4e5b4a" target="_blank"> horrific goalkeeping error</a> from Drake Callender in the 31st minute, and then in the second half, Rayados took full control. German Berterame doubled their lead in the 58th minute with an absolute laser of an effort, and then assisted their third two minutes later: a Jesus Gallardo header to make it 3-0.In the 78th minute, things went from bad to worse, as Alba was sent off for a second yellow card offense. The Spaniard obtained two yellows within four minutes, leaving his teammates stranded to close out the match.A moment of consolation arrived in the 85th minute when Diego Gomez found the back of the net with a lovely header, but it was too little too late. This was the biggest loss the Herons have had with Messi on the pitch since his Summer 2023 arrival, making Wednesday's match a catastrophe for Tata Martino's side.

TELL ME MORE

Monterrey are five-time CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, most recently claiming a title in 2019 and 2021. They are the winningest club in the competitions history.

DID YOU KNOW?

German Berterame: What an incredible performance from the Argentine against Lionel Messi's squad at home at BBVA Stadium in Mexico. A goal and an assist, he was the best attacker on the pitch, living up to his rumored price tag of $15 million in the offseason amid <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/portland-timbers-german-berterame-cf-monterrey/blt1d627de26076ed16" target="_blank">interest from MLS side Portland Timbers.</a>
 He scored an absolute laser to make the match 2-0 and assisted Rayados' third on the night, putting on a genuine classy performance in the attack.

THE MVP

Drake Callender: It does not matter how many saves you make as a goalkeeper in this day and age. Mistakes define you, especially when they're egregious and game-altering.For the USMNT shotstopper, Wednesday night was a horrorshow of an evening. He recovered well from his first-half error, but moments like that define periods of play. It was evident that the Herons were a completely different team from the opening 30 minutes to the final 15 of the first half - Rayados' opener was a complete momentum changer.Modern-day goalkeepers want to play out of the back so desperately, but Callender's performance Wednesday was another look at how that tactic can play out. He let his team down on the biggest stage, and will now have to use it as a springboard to improve throughout the season.

THE BIG LOSER

The Herons will take on Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium at the weekend, with a crowd of over 70,000 expected for the marquee MLS match of the week.CF Monterrey, meanwhile, will advance to the semifinals of the Champions Cup to take on the Columbus Crew.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

MATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crash out of CONCACAF Champions Cup as CF Monterrey pummel Herons in Mexico | Goal.com US

Lionel Messi&apos;s return to the starting XI for Inter Miami vs Rayados was not enough to see them through to the next round of the Champions Cup.

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