MIAMI: Inter Miami, playing without Lionel Messi, went a man down and then finished a goal down after the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
After getting an 89th-minute winner from Jorge Rodriguez, Monterrey take a 2-1 lead into the second and final leg of the total-goal series on April 10 in Guadalupe, Mexico. Messi was ruled out pregame due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since mid-March.
Even without the superstar, Miami went up 1-0 on a 19th-minute goal from Tomas Aviles. The Herons were still on top when they lost midfielder David Ruiz to a second yellow card in the 65th minute. Monterrey pulled level four minutes later on a goal from Maximiliano Meza, then jumped on top in the waning minutes.