Lionel Messi's Inter Miami crash out of CONCACAF Champions Cup

• Inter Miami were taught bitter football lessons against Mexican side Monterrey
• Lionel Messi's club were eliminated from the Champions Cup on Wednesday
• Monterrey beat the Messi-led Herons 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the semis

Mexican side Monterrey sent Lionel Messi and Inter Miami crashing out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their quarter-final clash.

Goals from Brandon Vazquez, German Berterame and Jesus Gallardo sealed a deserved 3-1 win on the night for the Liga-MX side, who advance to a semi-final with Major League Soccer champions Columbus.

Trailing 2-1 after last week's first leg in Florida, Inter Miami recalled Argentine superstar Messi to their starting line-up for the first time since his near-month-long injury absence.

But the presence of the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner was not enough to inspire Inter against a Monterrey side who looked far sharper in all departments.

Inter beat Empoli to close in on Serie A title

Football

How Inter Miani were defeated

Monterrey took the lead on 31 minutes after Vazquez punished a howler from Callender.

The goalkeeper miscued an attempted pass to Sergio Busquets and found Vazquez just yards from the Miami goal.

Inter Miami created little of note thereafter, with Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez rightly having a goal disallowed for offside in first-half stoppage time.

On 58 minutes, Monterrey left Miami with a mountain to climb with a fantastic strike from their own Argentine striker Berterame.

Six minutes later Berterame turned provider, chipping a cross to an unmarked Gallardo, who buried a perfectly timed header past Callender.

A miserable night for Miami ended in acrimony on 78 minutes when former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba was sent off after picking up his second yellow card for a stamp on Gallardo.

Diego Gomez nodded in a late consolation goal for Miami from Messi's inviting free-kick on 85 minutes but it was too little too late for the MLS club.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez sons win another trophy fro Inter Miami academy

Football

The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the premier regional club competition for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, with the winner of this year's tournament earning a place at next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Monterrey coach insults Messi

Sports Brief also reported on Monterrey’s assistant head coach, Nico Sanchez, insulting Messi in the first leg of the encounter in Miami despite the attacker not playing.

Sanchez referred to his compatriot as a possessed dwarf with the face of the devil when Miami staff confronted the officials. He has since apologised for his comments.