Allende Seals the Victory for Inter Miami

Inter Miami defeated Jamaican team Cavalier FC 2-0 on Thursday night in the opening leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup group of 16. Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende scored second-half goals with a healthy Lionel Messi on the bench.

Messi rested his second consecutive game. He left Miami for Houston for a Major League Soccer game against the Dynamo on Sunday night, which Miami won 4-1 not travelling with Miami. Allende got a pass from Sergio Busquets and, with his shot falling inside the left post, beat Cavalier goalkeeper Vino Barclet from 12 yards out in the 61st minute.

In the 83rd minute Suárez connected. He grabbed a pass deflected off the foot of Cavalier defender Shamar Watson and drove a 20-yard shot. After seven minutes of video review, Cavalier forward Shaquille Stein’s apparent goal late in the first half was overruled due to an offside infringement.

March 13 at Kingston, Jamaica will be the second leg. On Wednesday, first-year Miami coach Javier Mascherano stated Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, attended the two practices preceding the game.

Still, he was not in the announced lineup one hour beforehand. Messi observed from a private box.

Following their December CONCACAF Caribbean Cup victory, Cavalier—who took home the Jamaican Premier League title last season—advanced to this Champions Cup stage. Following two-0 and four-0 losses against FC Cincinnati last year, the team stays scoreless in the Champions Cup.