Lionel Messi was not involved again as goals from Luis Suarez and Tadeo Allende gave Inter Miami victory over Jamaican club Cavalier FC in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup group of 16 match.
Messi didn’t travel with Miami to Houston for a MLS match against the Dynamo on Sunday night, which Miami won 4-1 and didn’t feature again – although coach Javier Mascherano says he is not injured.
“For us, we feel it when we don’t have Leo,” Mascherano said. “I think any team in the world that doesn’t have Leo will feel that.
“Not having the best player is complicated but we have to take a step forward and learn to play without him.”
Allende beat Cavalier goalkeeper Vino Barclet from 12 yards before Suarez blasted in a shot from 20 yards.
“We played with fire and when you play with fire, you are likely to get burned,” Mascherano said. “We didn’t play with the rhythm we planned for in the first half.
“There was no intensity. In the second half, we attacked much better and dictated the game.”
The second leg will be on March 13 in Kingston, Jamaica.
