The Seattle Sounders fell to a 3-1 defeat against Inter Miami on Tuesday night at Chase Stadium. Goals from Jordi Alba, Lionel Messi, and Ian Fray secured the win for the hosts, while Obed Vargas scored for Seattle.
The first ten minutes saw both teams exchanging possession without creating meaningful chances.
The deadlock broke in the 12th minute when Miami capitalized on a midfield turnover, finding Messi in space. The Argentine drove towards Seattle’s defense and slipped a pass to Alba, who calmly finished past Stefan Frei to make it 1-0.
Miami continued to pressure Seattle,with Fray forcing a save from Frei in the 16th minute.
Seattle’s first chance came in the 21st minute when Jesús Ferreira unleashed a powerful shot from distance, but goalkeeper Oscar Ustari made the save.
Messi nearly extended Miami’s lead in the 28th minute, receiving a long ball and hitting the post with a close-range shot.
Frei was tested again in the 33rd minute, making a diving save to deny a header from Fray.
Miami doubled their advantage in the 41st minute as Alba delivered a cross to the far post, which Messi expertly converted with a sliding one-touch finish.
Seattle’s clearest chance of the first half arrived in stoppage time when Paul Rothrock dispossessed Noah Allen and launched a counterattack, but his breakaway shot was saved by Ustari.