Crew oust Messi-less defending champions Miami in Leagues Cup

WASINGTON: Diego Rossi’s two second-half goals launched Columbus Crew over reigning champions Inter Miami 3-2 to reach the Leagues Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The Uruguayan forward lifted the host Crew level in the 69th minute and netted the decider in the 80th to dethrone Miami, who also lead this season’s overall MLS league standings. Miami star Lionel Messi did not play, as he was still sidelined with a right ankle injury suffered a month ago in Argentina’s Copa America final win over Colombia.

With the victory,reigning MLS champion Crew will play host to a Saturday quarter-final against New York City, who won 2-1 over Tigres. Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute and compatriot Diego Gomez doubled the margin in the 62nd before US striker Christian Ramirez answered for the Crew in the 67th, setting the stage for Rossi’s winning brace.

The tournament features MLS and Liga MX Mexican sides, with Messi leading Miami to last year’s inaugural crown shortly after arriving in Florida.

New York City rallied to reach the last eight. Argentine midfielder Guido Pizarro, the Tigres captain, opened the scoring with a header in the 18th minute but City netted the equalizer in the 20th through another Argentine midfielder, Maxi Moralez.

Uruguayan Santiago Rodriguez scored the final goal for City in the 65th minute. At Cincinnati, Tai Baribo’s two goals lifted the Philadelphia Union over the hosts 4-2.

Philadelphia grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by Danish forward Mikael Uhre in the 51st minute and Israeli striker Baribo in the 61st. Czech midfielder Pavel Bucha answered for Cincinnati in the 66th minute and US defender DeAndre Yedlin netted an equalizer for the hosts in the 80th minute.

The Union responded on goals by Baribo in the 82nd and US substitute Quinn Sullivan in the 84th. Next up for Philadelphia will be a home quarter-final on Saturday against Mazatlan, which defeated Cruz Azul on penalties after playing to a 2-2 draw in Washington.