🏆 Concacaf comes for us all
Messi gets heated after CCC as MLS fans fear a throwback.
Lionel Messi watched his Inter Miami team fall 2-1 to Monterrey from the stands.
The best player in the region and, perhaps still, the world, "wasn’t ready to return from a right hamstring injury suffered in the previous round of Concacaf Champions Cup. Now in the quarterfinals, Inter Miami had put a fantastic first hour on the field against Rayados, getting an opening goal from Tomas Aviles and keeping the Liga MX squad from enjoying many attacking opportunities.
Then, David Ruiz saw multiple yellow cards, reducing Miami to 10 men. That and Rayados’ superior depth came through and Monterrey scored once, then again and takes a 2-1 advantage into next week’s second leg.
After the game, reports indicate, Messi let his frustration get the best of him. In the lead-up to the contest, Monterrey manager Tano Ortiz gave an interview in which he implied Messi may now be more focused on projects off the field than on and said he felt referees may be inclined to give Miami a hand because of the dollars Messi brings to the competitions he plays in.
“I’m not saying anything we don’t all know,” Ortiz said. “We all know football is a business.”
Those comments didn’t seem to sit well with the superstar, who reportedly faced up to Ortiz after the match and shared a few words.
The same reports indicate Messi, Miami manager Tata Martino and a cadre of his stars spoke to referee Walter Lopez - presumably to voice complaints about the sending off and other calls in the second half - and also a Monterrey player who came to Ortiz’s defense.
The lesson?
It doesn’t matter how many Ballons d'Or you have won, how much CONMEBOL drama you’ve dealt with, how fat your wallet, how lucrative your #brand.
Concacaf will still get the best of you.
Of course Messi is competitive. You don’t get to the level he’s gotten to without having a supreme level of internal drive. And, we’ve seen him have a go before - specifically in response to comments he didn’t like before a match. Remember, the “Que miras, bobo” comments were directed at Netherlands forward Wout Weghorst but came in response to the tone set by manager Louis van Gaal.
Yet, to be that fiery after a game in which he didn’t participate? This is what we were waiting to see. It’s why the Nashville game in which Inter Miami debuted in Concacaf play didn’t feel like Concacaf.
Whether you want to put it down to the referee, the Rayados rally or some combination, the result gives Ortiz’s squad a big advantage heading into next week’s game at the Estadio BBVA, where Rayados have lost just three times since August 2023.
The presence of Messi on the field could change all that.
“I admire Leo. I’ve said and I’ll say it again. I still observe and admire him,” Ortiz said after the game. “I’d like to face him to see him but at the same time I’m interested in my team winning. Having a positive result, the way we play can perhaps change a bit but we’ll be back at home with our fans. While numerically there’s a difference, if we think we’re already done, we’d make a huge mistake. From minute 0 to minute 96 Monterrey has to come out in the same way.”
We just don’t know if Messi’s right hamstring will allow him to take the field of the Estadio BBVA and try to do his talking there.
Pencil it in…
With the action and drama on (and near) the field, we may have lost sight of the big picture. Should results hold, we’ll have a Clásico Regio1 in the semifinals - putting two more games in Monterrey after next week’s second legs between Rayados-Inter and Tigres-Columbus Crew.
At least there is some drama in those second legs, with the Tigres-Crew series tied and Rayados preparing for the potential of Messi. The left side of the bracket is all wrapped up after the first legs.
Club América, after losing on the road to Real Esteli in Nicaragua in its first round contest, has been dominant. It topped Chivas 3-0 in Guadalajara and went one better against the New England Revolution. Despite nasty weather, an unfamiliar turf surface and the long trip, América was comprehensive from start to finish, flexing the favorite tag with a throttling. Anything but complete collapse next week in the Azteca gets Las Aguilas through to the semifinal.
I did appreciate América manager Andre Jardine giving a totally ‘stick-to-the-script’ answer when asked if his team has wrapped things up.
“No, this game is 180 minutes. We’ve got proof and experiences that tell us you have to play the whole time,” he said. “We were dominant, but for me the tie is still open.”
I mean, technically, yes. You still have to turn up to the office, and the Revs could probably get four or five against some sort of youth team, but relax Andre! You’re going to get into the semifinal.
And that semifinal will be against Pachuca, which did its best América impression with goals in minutes 3, 16, 55, 68 and - the dagger! - 90 against Herediano. Salomon Rondon had a hat trick and Pachuca now heads back to the Estadio Hidalgo with a big-ol’ cushion.
Even if Inter Miami, Columbus or both can turn their series around on the road, it’s been a very good ‘answer’ from Liga MX after the poor showings in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
Though it feels like it happened often, the last all-Liga MX semifinals came back in 2015-162. MLS not being able to place at least one team in the final four would feel like real backsliding at a time the league is desperate to convince it is taking big steps forward.
Is Messi the last hope to get a non-Mexican squad in there? That depends on the status of Crew forward Cucho Hernandez for the second leg against Tigres and how much you think the Volcán will throw Columbus off (or strengthen Tigres).
If it does come down to Messi’s hamstring, he’s going to have to block out something different than he has in the past. This is Concacaf. It comes for us all.
I’ll be back Monday with the weekly premium subscriber exclusive, have an extra-Concacaf-y feature coming Tuesday and then will break down the second legs next week. Thanks for your support and for telling your pals about Getting CONCACAFed
The same year we got a CCC Clásico Nacional!
Was SKC making the 2019 semifinal and losing 10-2 to Monterrey on aggregate progress? Ehhhh
Loved this piece! While the lack of time on the field from Messi has been disappointing to many, seeing him be fiery and competitive in games and on the sidelines is great. I also think CCC this year has been a reminder to MLS fans that the Leagues Cup is very different…not having to play outside the US is a big deal.
Side note…still so sad no Honduran side made it this year. 2025 will be different…I hope.