SKC falls out of Concacaf Champions Cup at Miami

Sporting Kansas City falls to Inter Miami CF 3-1 (4-1 in aggregate) in Concacaf Champions Cup. Miami advances and Sporting KC will now focus on MLS regular season play. Miami stars led the way with a goal from Lionel Messi and a goal and an assist from Luis Suárez.

Manager Peter Vermes was finally able to get a start for his three new attackers at the same time. Dejan Joveljic started at center forward with Shapi Suleymanov on his right and Manu Garcia in midfield.

Our XI in formation 🔵#MIAvSKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/FcZRcashc0

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 26, 2025

Both teams were grateful for a significantly warmer evening for the match after playing in sub-zero windchills the week before. The two sides were feeling each other out at the beginning. Miami had the better of the play initially and it was proved out when Suarez drove the ball almost to the end line on the left side of the box. The prolific scorer turned playmaker and chipped the ball diagonally back across the box. No matter how famous Messi is, he still finds ways to appear in the box unmarked. Suarez’s ball deftly found him and before Sporting KC’s defense could close him down, he lasered a ball just inside the post past a diving John Pulskamp in the 19th minute.

Para verlo una y otra vez 😮‍💨✨ #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/fNf4rwoIN9

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 26, 2025

After the Messi goal put Miami up 1-0 (2-0 in aggragate), Sporting KC started to get in the groove. Joveljic had a couple opportunities, he was connecting with Garcia, Suleymanov and Thommy. Zorhan Bassong was a presence in the midfield and it was looking like SKC might get their first goal of the season. Time was running out in the half but Kansas City was clearly on the front foot and looked like they were ready to make it a competitive game.

As the half went into stoppage time, Jordi Alba drove the ball to nearly the same spot Suarez assisted from before turning into the box. Alba slid the ball just across the six-yard box. Tadeo Allende slipped behind the center backs and touched it into the goal to make it 2-0.

Messi ➡️ Jordi ➡️ Tadeo ⚽💥 pic.twitter.com/9VFWz4jUi0

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 26, 2025

Miami essentially put the game to rest when they capitalized on a mistouch by SKC defender Jake Davis. The attempted clearance came back towards SKC’s box. Robert Voloder missed an opportunity to clean it up before Suarez pounced. Suarez blocked out Voloder, took control and then bounced a shot past Pulskamp to make it 3-0 (4-0 aggregate) just before haftime.

Luis Suárez nos da el tercero de la noche ⚽⚽⚽😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/1CmMu6TGhF

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 26, 2025

Sporting KC came out of the half and fought but once Vermes subbed off his three new attackers, it appeared they were throwing in the towel. The incoming subs still attempted to make a game of it and did pull one back when Memo Rodriguez shot deflected into the goal.

Sporting Kansas City pulls one back! ⚽#ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/kna4pTPAu6

— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 26, 2025