Cavalier SC delivered a resilient performance but ultimately fell 2-0 to Inter Miami CF in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at DRV PNK Stadium on Thursday night. The Jamaican Premier League side put up a valiant fight, including having a first-half goal controversially disallowed by VAR, but were undone by second-half strikes from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez, while Lionel Messi watched from the stands.
With anticipation building ahead of the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 between Cavalier SC and Inter Miami, Major Desmon Brown, General Manager of Independence Park Limited, has assured that the playing surface at the National Stadium in Kingston will be in top condition for the highly anticipated showdown on March 13.
Lionel Messi, the Argentinian superstar widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, set foot on Jamaican soil for the first time on Wednesday as he arrived with his Inter Miami teammates ahead of their second-leg clash against Cavalier SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Messi is gearing up for Argentina's Copa America title defence, which begins against Canada on June 20, while they will also face Chile and Peru in Group A.
The final takes place on July 14, with the Olympic tournament beginning in Paris 10 days later.
With three overage players allowed per team in the primarily under-23 event, leading to speculation that Messi could feature for La Albiceleste.
However, the 36-year-old, who was a gold medallist in Beijing 16 years ago, revealed he would not be partcipating following a discussion with Argentina under-23s coach - and former team-mate - Javier Mascherano.
"I talked to Mascherano and the truth is we both understood the situation," Messi told ESPN.
"It's hard [to think about the Olympics right now] because we're in Copa America. It would be two, three straight months of not being with the club, and more than anything, I'm not at an age to be in everything.
"I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments. I've been very lucky to play in the Olympics, and win it together with [Mascherano].
"It was a wonderful experience on a football level. Olympics, under-20s, memories I'll never forget."
Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to the field, coming on in the second half to score as Inter Miami secured a 2-0 victory over Cavalier SC in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie at the National Stadium in Kingston on Thursday night. The result sees Miami advance to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 aggregate victory, where they will face LAFC in the next round.
