In a remarkable display, the Columbus Crew demonstrated their supremacy in Major League Soccer by scoring three goals in just 14 minutes.

After a poor start that left them trailing 2-0 to Inter Miami, who played without Lionel Messi for 67 minutes, the Crew rallied to triumph 3-2 during their Leagues Cup Round-of-16 encounter on Tuesday evening.

The matchup was a showdown between the defending champions, aiming for MLS prestige and a spot in this year’s Leagues Cup quarterfinals. The intense action took place at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Diego Rossi netted two goals following Christian Ramirez’s strike in the 67th minute, propelling the reigning MLS champions to eliminate Inter Miami, the previous year’s Leagues Cup winners.

“We haven’t faced a situation like this in a while. This serves as a reminder that we never back down,” stated Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy. “If the other team is simply better or scores more, that’s fair, but we have the spirit to keep fighting. I’m pleased we pulled it off.”

The Crew will now face New York City FC in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals later this week, following NYCFC’s 2-1 victory over Tigres UANL on Tuesday. Earlier this year, Columbus finished as runners-up in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Inter Miami’s goals came from Matias Rojas in the 10th minute and Diego Gomez in the 62nd minute, putting them up 2-0. Despite the tough loss, they had previously defeated the Crew 2-1 at home on June 19 and could have solidified their status as the league leaders if they held on without Messi.

“I believe we had an excellent 65 minutes, and we could have scored a third goal,” said Inter Miami coach Tata Martino. “I’m very disappointed with the final outcome because it doesn’t reflect our match or the quality of the opponent we faced.”

With this loss, Inter Miami exits the Leagues Cup but will resume regular-season matches later this month. They are still waiting for Messi’s return from an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since the Copa America final on June 14.

This defeat marks only Inter Miami’s third loss in 11 games played without Messi since his departure on June 1.

Despite the setback, Inter Miami maintains a strong position as they look forward to Messi’s return.

Leading the MLS Eastern Conference, Inter Miami has 53 points, ahead by 10 points over the third-placed Crew. Note that Leagues Cup results do not influence the MLS standings.

Martino expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, saying, “It’s hard not to be pleased with how we played at the home of the last champions, who are also recent finalists in the Conca-champions.”

Here are the highlights of the Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami Leagues Cup match:

Highlights of Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami

Diego Rossi scores: Columbus Crew 3, Inter Miami 2

With a comeback from being down 2-0, Columbus Crew takes the lead within just 15 minutes.

Diego Rossi completes his brace with a goal in the 80th minute, putting the Crew ahead 3-2 against Inter Miami.

The game has completely shifted for both teams.

Diego Rossi equalizes: Columbus Crew 2, Inter Miami 2

That was rapid!

Diego Rossi scores with a right-footed strike from a brilliant set piece by Cucho Hernandez, leveling the match in the 69th minute.

Christian Ramirez responds: Inter Miami 2, Columbus Crew 1

What a response from the Crew!

Just moments after trailing 2-0, substitute Christian Ramirez finds the net in the 67th minute, reducing the deficit.

Diego Gomez scores: Inter Miami 2, Columbus Crew 0

Inter Miami doubles their lead against the reigning MLS champions.

Diego Gomez netted a right-foot strike in the 62nd minute, following a beautiful setup from Luis Suarez, bringing Miami to a 2-0 advantage over the Crew.

If Inter Miami secures this win, they will have beaten the Columbus Crew for the second time this season, proceeding in the Leagues Cup.

Inter Miami leads 1-0 at halftime against Columbus in Leagues Cup

Inter Miami has maintained a strong defense, successfully keeping Columbus in check while taking advantage of an early error.

Matias Rojas scored with a header in the 10th minute after Columbus messed up near their goal, allowing Miami to take an early lead.

Columbus struggled to generate attacks due to Inter Miami’s solid five-player defensive formation. MLS All-Star Diego Rossi squandered a prime shot over the net just before halftime in the 43rd minute.

Matias Rojas goal: Inter Miami 1, Columbus 0

Inter Miami capitalized on a defensive mistake by Columbus, with Matias Rojas scoring a header in the 10th minute, giving them a 1-0 lead on the road in this Leagues Cup Round-of-16 match.

Rojas scored following an assist and interception from Diego Gomez, and Luis Suarez was crucial in defense as well before the goal.

Where to watch Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami live?

You can catch the Inter Miami versus Columbus Crew game through the MLS Season Pass available on Apple TV.

Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami player lineups

Below are the lineups for both teams for tonight’s match:

Will Messi play tonight?

Unfortunately, Messi will not be playing again tonight, as confirmed by Inter Miami coach Tata Martino on Monday.

While Messi has removed his walking boot, he is still training separately from his teammates under the guidance of trainers, following his injury during the Copa America final on July 14.

When is Messi’s expected return from injury?

It remains uncertain when Messi will be back on the field.

Keep in mind a couple of critical dates: Messi might join Argentina for two upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers on September 5 (against Chile in Argentina) and September 10 (away against Colombia).

What was the outcome of the last match between Columbus and Inter Miami?

In their previous meeting on June 19, Inter Miami defeated Columbus Crew with a score of 2-1. Messi and Luis Suarez were unavailable for the game due to their participation in the Copa America. Goals for Miami came from Ian Fray and Leo Campana, while Cucho Hernández scored for Columbus.

Who will the winner face in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals?

The team that wins the Inter Miami-Columbus match will go on to compete against the winner of the match between Tigres UANL and New York City FC, happening on Tuesday.

Leagues Cup 2024 Round of 16 schedule

Here are the other matches slated for Tuesday night in the Leagues Cup:

∎ FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET (Apple TV)

∎ Tigres UANL vs. New York City FC, 8 p.m. ET (Apple TV; FS1, UniMás)

∎ Cruz Azul vs. Mazatlán, 8 p.m. ET (Apple TV)

∎ Toluca FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 10 p.m. ET (Apple TV)

∎ Club América vs. St. Louis CITY SC, 10:30 p.m. ET (Apple TV)

∎ LAFC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET (Apple TV)

∎ Seattle Sounders FC 4, PUMAS UNAM 0

When is the final of the Leagues Cup?

The final and third-place match of the Leagues Cup will occur on August 25. The teams competing will be determined following the quarterfinals scheduled for August 16-17, and the semifinals on August 21.