The Columbus Crew has dashed Inter Miami club hopes of defending the MLS title after coming from two goals down to win and qualify for the quarterfinals.
Miami is still playing without superstar Lionel Messi, who has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury in Argentina’s Copa América final win over Colombia last month. Earlier this week, manager Gerardo Martino admitted that he does not know when Messi will be able to return to the field.
However, they have been playing alright. They were going to prove that they could do it even without his presence.
Miami looked good to start the game and qualify as Rojas headed past Nicholas Hagen early in the first half. Diego Gomez sent another one into the net and Miami seemed to be cruising into the quarterfinals.
“When one observes how the team competes today against Columbus,” Martino said, “the reality is that one cannot help but be very satisfied with the way in which we can stand in the home of the last champion, in a team that was also a Concacaf Champions finalist.”
But Columbus Crew, third in MLS’ Eastern Conference would not back down. Rossi and Ramírez scored in a matter of minutes to level the score. A few moments later, Rossi picked a double, rolling the ball home from a difficult angle to seal the win.
The Crew will face New York City FC in the quarterfinals, while Miami, which won last year’s inaugural edition of the Leagues Cup, will rest before they face Cincinnati FC.
“Today, even after a defeat, we will continue trying to achieve some title in the local league, which is what remains,” Martino added.
“But I cannot accept that all this is measured based on whether you won or lost; I accept it because they are the rules of the game.”
