It's the second leg for Miami and Sporting Kansas City, mercifully, in Florida this time. Inter Miami can advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup's Round of 16 as long as it doesn't lose on Tuesday night. Sporting KC is up against the wall, after stumbling 1-0 in last week's ice-cold first leg in Kansas.
Lionel Messi delivered the only goal of the match amid austere conditions. He should expect far more comfortable in the Sunshine State.
Messi's strike broke a deadlock in the 56th minute of the first leg. Former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets lobbed it ahead to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who twisted around three Sporting defenders and finessed a shot past keeper John Pulskamp. It was a triumphant moment for a 37-year-old going all out in the frigidity.
Both teams opened their MLS schedules over the weekend. Sporting's MLS kickoff was spoiled by a late Osman Bukari strike in a 1-0 loss at Austin.
It's still early after just two matches, but Miami still hasn't lost under manager Javier Mascherano. Saturday's MLS season opener with NYCFC was an awfully close call, though. Argentine defender Tomás Avilés was red carded in the 23rd minute, and Miami trailed 2-1 until 21-year-old Telasco Segovia equalized at the end of stoppage time. The silky set-up was delivered by... honestly, who else would to be?
Miami is suitably loaded with international stars eager to play alongside Messi. Former Barca running mates Busquets, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba are in Heron's pink, too, fashioning one of the league's most intriguing watches.
The advancing side will face Jamaica's Cavalier FC, one of the bracket's five pre-seeded opponents.