Inter Miami, Colorado Rapids out to uphold first-leg leads | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with second leg matches in Round One on Tuesday that will fill two more spots in the Round of 16.

Inter Miami CF will welcome Sporting Kansas City, while Los Angeles FC will host the Colorado Rapids on the other coast of the United States.

The aggregate winner in each series will advance to the Round of 16.  If teams are tied on away goals after regulation, extra time and penalties (if necessary) will decide the winner of the Round One series.

Inter Miami CF vs. Sporting Kansas City

Inter Miami hosts Sporting Kansas City at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. The home side will seek to defend its current lead in the series following a 1-nil away win in Kansas.

A goal from Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to victory in the opening match of the series. Óscar Ustari stood out in goal for the Herons, registering three saves en route to collecting his first clean sheet of the campaign. The victory marked the first away win for Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Erick Thommy attempted seven dribbles in the first leg fixture against Inter Miami, the most for a Sporting KC player in a Concacaf Champions Cup match since 2016, equaling Yohan Croizet’s against Independiente La Chorrera and Gerso against Monterrey in 2019. Thommy will be an important player in the second leg as the Kansas side strives for a comeback.

Five Key Moments from the First Leg

1.    1. Messi’s Right-Footed Goal to Give Inter Miami the Lead – Messi scored his first right-footed goal in continental club competition since doing so in the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona in 2019 against Manchester United.

2 2. Busquets and Messi Connection - Seventeen of Sergio Busquets’ last 29 assists in all club competitions for FC Barcelona and Inter Miami set up goals scored by Messi, dating back to March 2016.

3.  3.-   Messi’s Stunning Record in Knockout Stages - Messi has been involved in 66 goals (52 goals, 14 assists) in 81 career knockout stage matches in continental competitions (UEFA Champions League and Concacaf Champions Cup), including at least one goal involvement in all four of his appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup (3 goals, 2 assists).

4.  4.-   First CCC Victory on the Road for Inter Miami – Inter Miami’s 1-nil win in the first leg marked the team’s first-ever away win in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

5.  5.-   Clean sheet – Inter Miami kept Sporting KC scoreless in Kansas City and will enter the second leg at home with a valuable advantage on the aggregate scoreline.

Los Angeles FC vs. Colorado Rapids

Los Angeles FC faces the Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The visitors enter the second leg with a 2-1 advantage.

A brace from Djordje Mihailovic, including a fantastic free kick goal for his second strike of the evening, delivered the Rapids the win in the first leg.

Aaron Long cut the deficit in the 87’ with a header inside the box on a delivery from Denis Bouanga, earning an away goal for LAFC.

Five Key Moments from the First Leg

1.     1.-Mihailovic Goal Contributions in CCC  - Mihailovic has been directly involved in four goals in five career matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup (2 goals tonight, 1 goal and one assist with CF Montréal vs. Santos Laguna in 2022).

2.    2.-  Mihailovic Set Piece Specialist - Mihailovic scored 14 goals for Colorado, with the last seven coming from set pieces (six penalties and one direct free kick). Since his debut, only Rafael Navarro has netted more goals for the Rapids (17) in all competitions. He is also the first American player to score a direct free-kick goal in the Concacaf Champions Cup since Kellyn Acosta for FC Dallas vs. Pachuca in March 2017.

3.     3.- Home Fortress for Colorado – With the win in the first leg, the Rapids are unbeaten in six straight home matches against LAFC.

4.    4.-Bouanga Contributions in Attack for LAFC - With his in the opening fixture of the series, Bouanga has been directly involved in 11 goals (seven goals and four assists) in nine career matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

5.5.- Decisive Player on the Road for LAFC – Additionally, Bouanga has nine direct goal contributions in five career away matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup (six goals, three assists), four more than any other player since he made his debut in the competition in 2023.