Inter Miami CF’s defense of the Leagues Cup came to an abrupt end on Tuesday night at Lower.com Field as they squandered a 2-0 lead against the Columbus Crew.
The Crew mounted a comeback with Christian Ramírez kicking off the scoring, followed by two goals from Diego Rossi. Miami initially took control of the match with goals from Matías Rojas and Diego Gómez, but ultimately lost 3-2, eliminating them from the tournament and sending Columbus to the quarterfinals.
The absence of superstar Lionel Messi, sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa América final last month, continued to challenge Miami.
The match started positively for Miami, with Rojas scoring early in the first half. The team appeared to be on track for a quarterfinal spot when Gómez found the net with a curling shot from a Luis Suárez assist. Coach Gerardo Martino expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, noting their competitiveness against the reigning MLS champions.
However, the Crew, currently third in MLS’s Eastern Conference and strong at home under Coach Wilfried Nancy, turned the tide when Ramírez and Rossi scored within minutes to equalize. Rossi later netted the winner from a difficult angle.
Columbus will now face New York City FC in the quarterfinals, while Miami has a break before returning to MLS action on August 24 against league leaders FC Cincinnati. Martino emphasized that despite the defeat, the team remains focused on pursuing titles in the local league.