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Lionel Messi set up an early goal then scored one before leaving Inter Miami CF‘s 5-3 Concacaf Champions Cup aggregate win over Nashville SC on Wednesday night, as it advanced to the quarterfinals of the regional club tournament.
The teams came into the game tied 2-2 on aggregate after the first leg in Nashville, but Luis Suárez scored at the end of a nice combination with Messi before the former Barcelona star scored one of his own with a cool finish from the center of the penalty area to give Miami a two-goal aggregate cushion.
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Messi was on the field to begin the second half, but Miami coach Gerardo Martino substituted him with Robert Taylor five minutes after the restart. It was unclear why Messi was pulled from the game. It was unclear why Messi, who was rested in his team’s 2-1 loss to Montreal in MLS on Sunday, was pulled so early in the second half.
It was a fourth straight game with a goal for Messi, bringing his season totals to five goals, four assists in five games played so far for Miami this season.
Despite trailing 2-0, Nashville looked dangerous to start the second half with Drake Callender making two good saves in the Miami goal to keep his team in front.
The home team put the game effectively out of reach shortly after the hour mark when Suarez curled in a perfect cross from the right side and Taylor leapt to meet it and turn home a powerful curling header to extend the lead to 3-0.
Miami will play the winner of the round-of-16 match between Monterrey and FC Cincinnati in the quarterfinals of the CCC beginning on April 2. It plays D.C. United away on March 16, before that.
Messi is also expected to take at least some part in a pair of Argentina friendlies later in the month against El Salvador and Costa Rica, with the World Cup champions preparing to defend its Copa America title this summer when the United States hosts the CONMEBOL cup competition.