The Columbus Crew established themselves as the top team in Major League Soccer with a dramatic comeback victory, erasing a two-goal deficit to defeat Inter Miami 3-2 in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday night.
After struggling for the first 67 minutes and falling behind 2-0 to an Inter Miami side missing superstar Lionel Messi, the Crew sprang to life with three goals in a remarkable 14-minute span at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
Diego Rossi scored twice, following a goal from Christian Ramirez, helping the reigning MLS champions to eliminate last year’s Leagues Cup winners, Inter Miami.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve faced a situation like this. This is a great reminder that we don’t quit,” said Crew coach Wilfried Nancy. “If the other team is better or scores more goals, that’s fine, but the spirit is that we never give up. I’m proud we accomplished this.”
With this win, the Crew will face New York City FC in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals after NYCFC edged Tigres UANL 2-1 on the same night. Earlier this year, Columbus secured second place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Inter Miami got on the scoreboard first through Matias Rojas in the 10th minute, followed by a second goal from Diego Gomez in the 62nd minute. These efforts put Miami in a strong position, aiming for a second victory against Columbus after previously winning 2-1 at home on June 19.
“I thought we played brilliantly for 65 minutes and were close to scoring a third,” said Inter Miami coach Tata Martino. “I’m very disappointed with the result, as it doesn’t reflect the quality of our play or the opponent.”
Inter Miami will now be eliminated from the Leagues Cup and will shift their focus back to the regular season later this month, still waiting for Messi’s return from a right ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final on June 14. Despite this setback, the team remains in strong contention in the MLS Eastern Conference, leading with 53 points, ahead of the Crew by 10 points.
Martino expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite the loss. “We can take pride in how we played at the home of the reigning champions and a team that was also a CONCACAF finalist.”
The match featured several key moments:
– After trailing 2-0, Columbus quickly responded with a goal from Christian Ramirez in the 67th minute.
– Diego Rossi then equalized in the 69th minute with an impressive shot from a set piece.
– Rossi later sealed the comeback with his second goal in the 80th minute.
Inter Miami initially secured their lead with Rojas’s opening header in the 10th minute, benefiting from a Columbus defensive error, and maintained that advantage until Columbus rallied in the late stages.
The Crew’s sharp turnaround underlines their resilience, and they are poised to advance further in the Leagues Cup. The next steps in the tournament are set, with quarterfinal matchups scheduled to take place soon.