The Columbus Crew overcame a 2-0 deficit to end Inter Miami CF’s Leagues Cup title defense on Tuesday night at Lower.com Field.
Christian Ramírez started the comeback and Diego Rossi scored twice as the reigning MLS Cup winners came back from behind with goals from Matías Rojas and Diego Gómez of Miami to win the match 3-2 and reach the quarterfinals.
Miami continues to play without superstar Lionel Messi, who has been out of action since an ankle injury sustained in the Copa América final against Colombia last month.
Miami looked to be in good form early in the game when Rojas headed past Nicholas Hagen early in the first half. Gerardo Martino’s team looked to be on their way to the quarterfinals when Gómez curled a beautiful shot into the right corner after a pass from Luis Suárez.
“When you look at the way the team performed today against Columbus,” Martino said, “you can’t help but be very pleased with how we performed in the home stadium of the last champions, a team that was also a finalist in the CONCACAF Champions.”
But the Crew, third in the MLS Eastern Conference and particularly strong at home under coach Wilfried Nancy, came back with a vengeance when Rossi and Ramírez equalized within minutes and took the lead when Rossi fired the ball into the net from a difficult angle to seal the win.
The Crew will face New York City FC in the quarterfinals, while Miami, which won the inaugural Leagues Cup last year, will have a break before resuming MLS play against league rivals FC Cincinnati on August 24.
“Today, even after a defeat, we will continue to try to win a title in the local league, that’s what remains,” added Martino. “But I cannot accept that all this is measured by whether you won or lost. I accept it because those are the rules of the game.”
