Monterrey outclasses Inter Miami to reach Champions Cup semifinals

Leo Messi and Inter Miami proved to be no match for Monterrey and the Rayados waltzed into the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals on the back of a 5-2 aggregate victory.

The Liga MX giants advance to a meeting with the defending MLS champions Columbus Crew who eliminated the Rayados’ crosstown rivals, Tigres, a night earlier.

Playing in front of a packed house of 53,000, the Rayados exhibited tactical discipline from the outset. Stefan Medina and Víctor Guzmán were rock-solid in the middle of the back line all game long and that provided the platform for waves of counterattacks.

Luis Romo and Sergio Canales bossed the midfield and fullback Gerardo Arteaga was a constant threat down the left flank, with Maxi Meza serving as a mirror image on the right side.

Miami defense melts under the pressure

Striker Brandon Vazquez got the hosts on the scoreboard in minute 31, intercepting a weak outlet pass by goalie Drake Callender. The lanky striker quickly controlled the ball, feinted as Callender scrambled to cover for his mistake, then slotted home.

Five minutes later, Canales sprang Arteaga down the left side and his cross found Meza charging in at the back post but his volley was palmed over the crossbar by Callender.

Although the MLS side had the better of possession, they often struggled to carry out of their zone – an issue that would prove to be a real problem in the second half – and frustration grew among the Barcelona contingent.

Messi did get a couple looks at goal in the first half but Luis Suárez was noticeably perturbed at the lack of service.

Inter Miami giveaways allowed the Rayados to put the game away early in the second half. 

First an Erick Aguirre steal in the Monterrey half led to a Luis Romo shot that was tipped over the crossbar for a corner. On the ensuing corner kick, an outlet pass was stolen and a deflected cross just grazed one of Callender’s post.

Jesús Gallardo then dribbled past two Herons inside the box, but his sharp-angled shot was controlled by Callender.

In minute 58, Canales dribbled through midfield, then sent Arteaga behind the defense. Arteaga squared to Germán Berterame at the half-moon, he shook free of former UNAM defender Sebastian Freire and blasted a right-footer into the upper-90 to make it 2-0, and 4-1 on aggregate.

A few minutes later, Inter Miami was playing with across the back looking to carry out, when Diego Gomez gave it away. The ball ricocheted to Berterame at the edge of the box and he quickly scooped a cross to Gallardo who was free to power a header past Callender.

With the game no longer I doubt, Inter went down to 10 men in minute 78 after Jordi Alba was shown a second yellow card, after a second cynical tackle in a 5-minute stretch.

Gomez got his head on a Messi free kick in minute 85 to make the final score a wee bit more respectable, but Inter Miami will head home knowing Monterrey was the better team.

Tuzos are third Liga MX semifinalist

Pachuca finished off its quarterfinal series against Costa Rica’s Herediano with a 2-1 win at home, able to rest several of its regulars thanks to the 5-0 first-leg victory.

The Tuzos move on to face América in the CCC Final Four, guaranteeing Liga MX at least one finalist.