Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino said his side will target the MLS title and praised his players despite the Eastern Conference team spurning a 2-0 lead to go out of the 2024 Leagues Cup with a 3-2 defeat in the round of 16 at Columbus Crew.
Matias Rojas’ diving header gave Miami a 10th-minute lead before Diego Gomez collected Luis Suarez’s pass to score the second with 28 minutes remaining.
In the continuing absence of Lionel Messi, Inter remained firmly on course to progress until midway through the second half, when two goals in three minutes – the first from Christian Ramirez, the equaliser from Diego Rossi – drew Columbus level.
GOLAZO CON CONEXIÓN ALBIROJA 🇵🇾✨ pic.twitter.com/xwu12xz1Sf
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 13, 2024
Rossi’s winner 10 minutes from time sent the MLS Cup holders through and ensured Miami’s only interest now is in their league campaign.
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Inter Miami ‘brilliant’
“The truth is that we played 75 brilliant minutes in which we could even have scored a third goal,” Martino said. “Surely we’ll go and compete and continue trying to win a league title.
“We wanted to press high when we were perhaps not in a position to do so. When you analyse 10 minutes of the game, you can obviously find flaws. I like to analyse the 90, and there I don’t find too many flaws in the team.”
Miami are top of their league table by five points, although Columbus could prove their greatest threat, standing 10 points behind with two matches in hand.
Suárez que lo entiende todo y Gómez que no falla en @LeaguesCup 🇺🇾🤝🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/7rHHtsMqib
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 14, 2024
The Leagues Cup crown they won last year remains the only silverware Miami have secured since being formed six years ago.
MLS focus for Miami
“There were many times when we missed that last pass or finish,” said midfielder Sergio Busquets. “It is a shame; we wanted to continue in the tournament and we fought until the end.
“Now there is no other option but to prioritise the league, and we are in a very good position. I hope we can maintain our rhythm, finish top and focus on the play-offs.”
Inter had 12 of the 30 attempts between the sides, with Rojas becoming the joint-top scorer in the Leagues Cup courtesy of his third goal in two matches and fourth in this season’s competition.
“The reality is that one cannot help but be very, very satisfied with the way in which we performed at the home of the reigning [MLS] champions,” added Martino.
