Inter Miami vs Monterrey live score, updates, stats as Tomas Aviles scores in CONCACAF Champions Cup first leg

By | April 3, 2024
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Inter Miami face the toughest test of their young season as the battered and bruised Herons welcome Liga MX giants Monterrey to their South Florida home for the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal.

Having trained the day before, Lionel Messi was expected to return for Inter Miami after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, but he instead will not take part. Inter Miami are missing a host of other players with fitness concerns as well, as the MLS club faces a daunting task.

Monterrey, the 2021 CONCACAF title winners, sit second in Liga MX, just a hair off the league lead via goal differential, and present a very steep challenge for Inter Miami boss Tata Martino. The Mexican club boasts a fully fit squad, which includes former FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez who would love nothing more than to down another former league opponent after knocking off his old club in the previous round.


The Sporting News is following the Inter Miami vs. Monterrey match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey live score

  Score (HT) Goal scorers
Inter Miami 1 Aviles (19′)
Monterrey 0 –

Kickoff: 8:07 p.m. ET / 5:07 p.m. PT
Location: Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Referee: Walter Enrique Lopez Ramos

Starting lineups:

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 57. Weigandt, 6. Aviles, 21. Freire, 18. Alba — 5. Busquets, 41. D. Ruiz, 20. D. Gomez — 24. Gressel, 9. Suarez, 16. Taylor (Afonso, 37′).

Monterrey (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Andrada (GK) — 14. Aguirre, 4. Guzman, 15. Moreno, 3. Arteaga — 27. Romo, 30. J. Rodriguez — 11. Meza, 10. Canales, 17. Gallardo — 23. Vazquez.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey live updates, highlights, commentary

HALFTIME: Inter Miami 1-0 Monterrey

What an odd 45 minutes that was. Monterrey started very well, and looked to be creating dangerous moments in front of goal, but instead it was an injury-riddled Inter Miami that went in front. On the whole, Inter Miami held their own very well, despite their lack of overall fitness, and by the halftime whistle were the ones with more quality chances than their opponent.

Credit Tata Martino’s side for their constitution and fortitude so far, as they are making a very talented Monterrey side look very average. The Liga MX club is far from beaten, but they have to improve if they wish to bring a manageable scoreline back home for the second leg.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey: First Half

45+3 min: A yellow card is shown to Jesus Gallardo of Monterrey who bulldozes Diego Gomez late and out of control. It’s the final action of the first half!

45th min: Chance, Inter Miami! Luis Suarez almost makes use of a deflection at the near post to put Inter Miami two goals up, but Esteban Andrada makes a really smart save, having to redirect his body after the ball clipped the defender!

Three minutes of added time are shown.

42nd min: Jordi Alba is incensed at being whistled for a foul just outside the penalty area, and gets face-to-face with the official. In the aftermath, David Ruiz is booked for what can only be dissent, as he was otherwise uninvolved.

It gives Monterrey a very dangerous free-kick chance just inches outside the right edge of the penalty area, but the whipped delivery, while pacey, is rifled straight into the arms of Drake Callender.

36th min: Now there’s a fitness concern for Robert Taylor, who is down with what looks to be a muscle issue in his hamstring or groin. The hits just keep coming for Tata Martino, and Leo Afonso will have to come on. Afonso, a recent draft pick from UVA and academy graduate, just signed his pro contract yesterday.

MORE: Read about Inter Miami’s brutal injury list and what might be going on in South Florida

Afonso’s first involvement comes right away, as he runs into Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrade which calls the ball to pop out and roll away, but a foul is called. It’s a contentious decision, as the goalkeeper really never had control of the ball and Afonso has a right to make the challenge.

31st min: There’s a brutal midfield collision between Diego Gomez and Maxi Meza, and the Inter Miami midfielder is booked. Gomez miscontrolled a pass from goalkeeper Drake Callender and then fouled Meza after. It looks like Gomez is the one who exits worse for wear, and needs treatment from the medical staff.

23rd min: Monterrey had taken control of the possessional dominance in this game even before the Aviles goal, and they’ve maintained that since falling behind, but there’s now a nervousness to their play. Monterrey clearly expected to establish dominance in this match, and they had been doing that before Inter Miami’s opener.

How will the Mexican club respond to absorbing the opening haymaker?

19th min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! The hosts take the lead against the run of play! The corner won by Gressel is sent in dangerousl to the near post, and defender Tomas Aviles who whacks it into the back of the net! It’s a defender’s finish no doubt, but he got free and the ball fell right at his feet!

It’s just the 20-year-old’s second-ever professional goal!

18th min: Chance, Inter Miami! The game is starting to open up, and Julian Gressel forces an awkward play by Esteban Andrada who tips the ball over the crossbar! Gressel is sprung on the counter one-on-one with a defender, and while he’s hemmed in well and ushered away from goal, he somehow figures out a way to cross it anyways, leaving the goalkeeper no choice but to react.

14th min: Chance, Monterrey! Sergio Canales rips a vertical ball to Brandon Vazquez, but the American sees it squirt awkwardly through his legs! The whole think was wonky, as it looked like Canales may have been looking to shoot and scuffed it, but instead saw the ball skitter towards a surprisingly open Vazquez on the doorstep at the far post. Vazquez didn’t seem to be expecting the ball, and it arrived too hot for him to collect.

If he had, though, he surely would have scored!

8th min: Monterrey are letting Inter Miami start their buildup, and then pouncing on wayward passes as they look to play through midfield. It’s working, as they are springing dangerous moves forward at pace almost every single time.

4th min: Chance, Monterrey! Brandon Vazquez forces Drake Callender into the first save of the evening! Gerardo Arteaga absolutely shreds the right side of Inter Miami’s lineup, and after cutting into the penalty area, he squares it to Vazquez three yards from goal, but his effort at the near post is turned over the end line by Callender.

The ensuing corner is also dangerous, taken short but lofted in and flicked on by the head of Luis Romo but nervously cleared away at the far post.

Kickoff: They’re under way at Chase Stadium! A very difficult test for Inter Miami amidst their first continental tournament in club history.

The hosts are in their pink shirts, while Monterrey don their quite sharp road whites with their namesake, the blue vertical stripes. Liga MX kits have a very particular vibe, and this one embodies that to perfection.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey stats

Inter Miami Stat (HT) Monterrey
6 Shots 6
2 Shots on target 3
43% Possession 57%
186 (86%) Acc. Passes 252 (91%)
1 Corners 2
6 Fouls 5
2 Yellow Cards 1

Inter Miami vs Monterrey: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: Inter Miami have enjoyed a very strong home field advantage since Lionel Messi’s arrival, but could Monterrey turn the atmosphere around? They’ve brought quite the hefty group of fans, as three double-decker buses pulled up with Mexican supporters, and more sure to arrive on their own. We’re almost ready for kickoff of this midweek continental quarterfinal!

30 mins to kickoff: The biggest problem for Inter Miami to sort through tactically with Lionel Messi’s absence (other than, you know, not having Lionel Messi) is that it forces Julian Gressel high, losing his work rate in midfield. Inter Miami look so much more effective with the tireless Gressel going both ways. The former Atlanta United star is excellent up front, mind you, but it’s what you lose in midfield that hurts most.

It was supposed to be young Argentine talent Facundo Farias to back Messi up, but he went down with an ACL tear in preseason. Now, Gressel has to move up, leaving the leaky double pivot of Sergio Busquets and Diego Gomez to play alongside one another in midfield. Injuries, injuries, injuries…

45 mins to kickoff: The Monterrey lineup has been released, and Brandon Vazquez gets the start up front. Inter Miami is the opponent he has scored the most goals against in his career, with six strikes against the Herons to his name.

The Rayados also start 36-year-old Hector Moreno at center-back alongside Victor Guzman, with regular Sebastian Vegas rested for this match. It’s not like Moreno hasn’t played this season, logging over 1,800 minutes thus far in a consistent rotation along the Monterrey back line.

1 hour to kickoff: The Inter Miami lineup is in, and sure enough, no Lionel Messi either in the starting XI or on the bench, as previously reported. Julian Gressel moves up to the front three, as he has in Messi’s absence repeatedly, and David Ruiz will play the No. 10 ahead of the double pivot of Sergio Busquets and Diego Gomez.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Monterrey has done a ton of good business of late, and as such, their squad is not only loaded with solid veterans, but boasts a hefty contingent of young talent too. Sergio Canales arrived last summer after a solid career in Spain, and at 32 years old is still a strong contributor with eight goals and two assists since joining.

Then, this past winter, they brought in U.S. international Brandon Vazquez from FC Cincinnati, Mexican international Gerardo Arteaga from Belgian side Genk, and Argentine midfielder Jorge Rodriguez, all of whom have been excellent since arriving.

The only recent bust has been “Tecatito” Corona who has deservingly lost his starting spot with just one goal and four assists in 25 games with the club. This will be a very difficult test for Inter Miami, especially without Lionel Messi available.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: There’s a sizable contingent of Monterrey fans ready to take their seats at Chase Stadium today.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: Well, just like that, there’s a report stating Lionel Messi will NOT take part in today’s match. A massive blow to Inter Miami who are already missing a ton of players and up against a very quality Liga MX club.

The report from Argentine journalist Martin Arevalo says that Messi’s recovery is going well, but Inter Miami don’t wish to risk any reinjury in this match. That was later confirmed by Argentine reporter Gaston Edul, who consistently reports on Messi’s availability.

2 hours to kickoff: Lionel Messi missed a pair of Inter Miami matches and two for Argentina while recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the previous Champions Cup round against Nashville SC. After training on Tuesday, Messi is expected to return for today’s match — a massive boon to an Inter Miami squad that has a number of other players still sidelined with various fitness concerns.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey lineups, team news

Lionel Messi was reportedly targeting this match for a return after missing multiple weeks with an injury, but instead he will not take part, as the club doesn’t wish to risk re-injury. Messi is far from the only injury concern in this ravaged Inter Miami squad.

Midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi is down for another few weeks after hernia surgery before the season began, and Facundo Farias will miss the season after tearing his ACL in preseason. Those players have been out since the start of the campaign, but there are recent injuries that have caused further strain.

New signing Federico Redondo went down recently with a meniscus tear in his knee and will miss two months, while aging defender Serhiy Kryvtsov suffered a hamstring injury and is out for a few weeks. Kryvstov was only seeing the field thanks to a hamstring injury to Nicolas Freire, who returns to the back line in this match.

The absentee list is so bad that Sergio Busquets had to play center-back in their draw with NYCFC last weekend, but Tomas Aviles played 25 minutes off the bench in that game and is fit to start here.

Inter Miami starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Alba — Busquets, D. Ruiz, D. Gomez — Gressel, Suarez, Taylor.

Inter Miami subs (8): Dos Santos (GK), Jensen, Sailor, Allen, Sunderland, Afonso, Borgelin, Campana.

Mexican internationals Luis Romo, Jesus Gallardo, and Gerardo Arteaga are the pillars in this squad, and they added significant talent in the offseason with the arrivals of Jorge Rodriguez from Estudiantes, Sergio Canales from Real Betis, and Brandon Vazquez from FC Cincinnati.

Along with fringe Mexico international Erick Aguirre and retired El Tri veteran Hector Moreno, this team is bursting with talent to the point where head coach Fernando Ortiz is finding it difficult to fit everyone in. Vazquez is forced to split time with Argentine striker German Berterame up front, especially as fitting both Rodriguez and Romo in the midfield often means sacrificing an attacker.

Interestingly, it’s Victor Guzman and 36-year-old Hector Moreno who start at center-back for the Rayados, with regular Sebastian Vegas rested.

Monterrey starting lineup (4-4-2): Andrada (GK) — Aguirre, Guzman, Moreno, Arteaga — Romo, Rodriguez — Meza, Canales, Gallardo — Vazquez.

Monterrey subs (12): Ramos (GK), Cardenas (GK), Vegas, Moxica, J. Martinez, Leone, E. Gutierrez, Govea, A. Gonzalez, Cortizo, Corona, Berterame.

How to watch Inter Miami vs Monterrey

  TV channel Streaming
USA FS1, TUDN Fubo USA, Fox Sports GO, TUDN app
UK  — CONCACAF GO
Australia  — CONCACAF GO
Canada OneSoccer Fubo Canada
India  — FanCode


USA: Fox Sports own the broadcast rights in the United States for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and have placed this match on TV channel FS1. Additionally, a Spanish-language broadcast can be found on TUDN. Both channels are available to stream on Fubo USA, with a FREE trial available for new users.

Canada: OneSoccer has the broadcast rights to the CONCACAF Champions Cup in Canada, which is available to stream on Fubo Canada.

India: In India, the CONCACAF Champions Cup can be streamed on FanCode, including this match between Inter Miami and Monterrey.

International: In territories where CONCACAF has not sold broadcast rights for the competition to a particular partner, CCC games can be accessed on the federation’s official streaming platform CONCACAF GO. This includes in England, Australia, and other nations around the world.

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