CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
Who could Inter Miami play in the next round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup?
The Herons have a tough test on the horizon if they can overcome Nashville SC in Wednesday’s Round of 16 clash.
Inter Miami continue their quest for continental success on Wednesday evening. The Herons are taking on Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and it’s all square ahead of the second leg at Chase Stadium.
Nashville started strongly in the first leg but were pegged back by two second half goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. The superstar intervention was enough to draw Miami level in the tie.
Playing the second leg with home field advantage, Miami will be the favourites to progress although the scores are level at 2-2. If they overcome Nashville and book their place in the quarter-finals Inter Miami will have a tough task in the next round.
The Herons will play the winner of FC Cincinnati and CF Monterrey, two of the strongest teams in the competition. Cincinnati were deserved winners of the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2023, while Monterrey topped Liga MX last year.
Which teams have qualified in the CONCACAF Champions Cup?
Ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures three teams have secured their places in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Columbus Crew will take on Tigres UANL in the first of the quarter-final games, while Mexican side Pachuca are yet to discover their opponents in the final-eight stage.
Columbus saw off MLS rivals Houston Dynamo in a tense Round of 16 clash. The reigning MLS Cup champions progressed thanks to a second leg goal from Cucho Hernandez, seeing off a late scare after Griffin Dorsey scored for Houston from the penalty spot.
There were more goals in Tigres’s victory over Orlando City, the second leg finishing 4-2 in favour of the Liga MX side. Goals from Marcelo Flores, Andre-Pierre GIgnac, Sebastian Cordova and a Pedro Gallese own goal secured Tigres’ progression.
But the most impressive result of this year’s competition was Pachuca’s thumping of Philadelphia Union. The tie was level after a 0-0 draw in the first leg but the Liga MX team hit top form on Tuesday evening, putting six goals past a sorry Union side. Former Premier League forward Salomon Rondon scored a hat trick for Pachuca as they cruised through to the final eight of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.