It was a busy evening of 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup action, with five MLS squads starting their Round One series on Wednesday.
FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC all earned road victories in the prestigious continental competition, while Real Salt Lake settled for a draw.
That follows the Colorado Rapids' 2-1 home win over LAFC on Tuesday night, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC visit Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa on Thursday night.
Sporting Kansas City 0, Inter Miami CF 1
Lionel Messi helped the reigning Supporters' Shield winners claim a big road victory, as his 56th-minute strike was the difference amid frigid temperatures at Children's Mercy Park.
Last season's Landon Donovan MLS MVP took down Sergio Busquets' perfectly-weighted cross off his chest in the box, cut to his right and slotted past SKC goalkeeper John Pulskamp for the pivotal away goal.
The series shifts to Chase Stadium for the second leg on Feb. 25. The aggregate winner faces Jamaican side Cavalier FC in the Round of 16.
Goals
- 56' - MIA - Lionel Messi | WATCH
Antigua 1, Seattle Sounders FC 3
Second-half goals by Pedro de la Vega and Albert Rusnák helped Seattle claim a 3-1 victory over Antigua at Estadio Pensativo in Guatemala.
Paul Arriola needed little time to make a positive first impression with his new club, putting the visitors in front, 1-0, in the third minute on a first-time finish from just outside the 18-yard box.
After Óscar Santis leveled for Antigua in the 24th minute, de la Vega broke the stalemate with a stunning golazo in the 61st minute before Rusnák closed out the decisive win with a stoppage-time strike.
The second leg will be played at Lumen Field on Feb. 26, with the victor advancing to face LIGA MX powerhouse Cruz Azul in the Round of 16.
Goals
Motagua 1, FC Cincinnati 4
Kévin Denkey and Evander both scored on their FC Cincinnati debuts and Pavel Bucha struck for a brace in a 4-1 victory over Motagua in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Bucha lashed a shot under the crossbar from the edge of the 18-yard box to open the scoring in the 28th minute. After Rodrigo Auzmendi leveled for the Honduran hosts, the visitors scored three unanswered goals in the second half with Denkey (49'), Bucha (77') and Evander (87'), in his first action for his new club after an MLS record-breaking trade with the Portland Timbers, each finding the back of the net.
FC Cincinnati will take their four away goals to TQL Stadium for Leg 2 on Feb. 26. The aggregate winner meets LIGA MX giants Tigres UANL in the Round of 16.
Goals
CS Herediano 0, Real Salt Lake 0
Neither team found the breakthrough, as CS Herediano and Real Salt Lake battled to a scoreless stalemate at Estadio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica.
Braian Ojeda had the best chance for the visitors to nab an away goal, but he flashed his low shot across the face of goal and just wide.
It's all to play for when the series heads to America First Field on Feb. 26. The winner meets the LA Galaxy in the Round of 16. The Galaxy secured a Round One bye after winning their record-setting sixth MLS Cup in December.
Goals
- None
