Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Chase Stadium vibrated for a moment before the first whistle as supporters filled every seat, singing echoing throughout the stands, pink Miami CF flags waving in the air. However, by the 72nd minute, Vancouver White Car Community managed to completely silence the once lively cauldron, as Oita's scoreboard reads MIA:1, van:3:3.

The moment before the goal, life that once passed through Chase Stadium felt like a distant memory as fans succumbed to the disappointment that had been eliminated in the knockout match of another game. Once the referee blew the last whistle, the whistles that remained in the stands were patted, but the players ignored these efforts and chose to rush out of the field.

Miami International knows that they face huge challenges when they enter the game with a 2-0 deficit in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals, but no one expects a final 5-1 overall score.

When signing the Barcelona boy, Miami International co-owner Mas vowed to succeed continuously, which would attract audiences at Chase Stadium and fans around the world. Although the club immediately achieved results when winning the Inaugural League Cup trophy, Miami Miami was unable to keep up with expectations in 2023. In each season of each season, the club will find new ways to strengthen the game and provide Messi with the necessary tools to thrive in the last third to maintain the initial trophy promise. But the effort continues to be insufficient, paving the way for the same, tired worry: Where is this star-studded roster?

Just over a year ago, on April 11, Miami beat CF Monterrey 5-2 in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. Former head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino blames the MLS roster rules, insisting that the restrictions of the U.S. system have brought the team back against the Liga MX MX giant, which has surpassed in every position. Despite the initial statement, Miami vows to return to strong in 2025.

For supporters, there have been several changes to the club this year, hoping to succeed after disappointment in 2024. The team incorporated players such as Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende and Maximiliano Falcón into the starting XI while adding the necessary depth to the bench. With the helm, Miami found new leadership to guide the club to victory. Mas insists that Javier Mascherano will be the one to cancel international stars and direct the historic semifinals.

"There is pressure to win here and the pressure will continue. We expect ourselves, our coach and our players," Mas said in November 2024.

The new coach reiterated this: "I am a firm believer that I can do it. I have no doubt."

But instead, with the team falling, Miami’s International Bureau was eliminated again, and history was repeated.

Inter Miami started the second leg strongly, starting the game with the energy of a team that needs a miracle to move forward. Players chase each ball, winning the 50-50 challenge that Canada feels impossible and being good at offense.

By the ninth minute, Messi jumped to the last third to find Luis Suarez and started the first goal of the night. The pass from Messi to his former Barcelona teammate and current offensive partner ignited Suárez to connect with Jordi Alba (another Barcelona alumnus) to get the left back to actually fire home.

The goal started with Sergio Busquets, crossed Sergio Busquets, and crossed Messi and Suarez before Alba found the net. But the Magic got into a strait in the second half, after two sudden defensive turnovers, Miami scored two goals in three minutes, eventually bringing Miami to a goal. The two goals removed hopes of a Miami comeback, and with it, Mascherano began to complete the game plan through his players disappeared.

Instead, the flashback against Monterrey in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals began to appear. On April 11, 2024, the team was at a disadvantage and needed two or more goals to get a positive result. Although the players arrived at the BBVA Stadium in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, they were eager to meet expectations that coaches, squads and team executives prepared for fans, but were disappointed. When Monterrey took the lead, the heron was hit by anemia and began to uncover.

This time, the game is no different.

After the 53rd minute, despair became a major contributor to the decision-making after Brian White and Pedro Vite scored each other. The deep concentration and human-to-person logo of defender Maximiliano Falcon, discussed in the pre-match meeting, can no longer be seen on the court.

The players pushed the technology and made physical tactics, while Mascherano made rash decisions from the outside. The two goals forced the Miami owner to make a key change to the roster, combining Allen Obando's Segovia and Gonzalo Luján, who replaced Falcon for the first time since signing the players before the season.

In the field, the attackers began to shoot sporadically in the direction of the target, hoping to find the net. Even Messi, who knows how to read the field accurately to perfect his next move, has also begun to engage in various aspects of the game with anxiety. Players who naturally prioritize calculating priority matches cannot stand frustration in impulsive actions. Instead of waiting for the player to find him in the final third of his chance to score, he did his best to find the ball throughout the court.

With patience, a smarter decision can be made, i.e. pass through defenders and dance to beat the goalkeeper, as the team has done countless times this season.

After the game, Mascherano said: "In three to four minutes, they decided on the series. We wanted to play a longer game without rushing." "We were a goal from the series and we pretended to be doing a long game.

"The hardest part is getting the first goal. But it's football, especially in the semifinals. Two or three mistakes against a good opponent, obviously good because they hit the semifinals but end up hurting you and end up being sentenced to the series."

The game plan disappeared, and there was no stellar power on the roster to save the club from elimination. Miami International Media already knows this reality very well. Mascherano couldn't even rely on Tata Martino's former excuse as the team played with three MLS teams and became one of the most valuable squads on this side of the bracket.

After Wednesday's game, Busques vowed that Miami would return to strength like the 2024 team.

"We are getting more and more every year," he said. "But although not much today. We want to go ahead."

However, the difference this time is that time has run out and the clock continues to shrink the career of Miami Fantastic Four. By 2026, with the contracts of Suárez, Messi, Alba and Busquets running at the end of the 2025 MLS campaign, the herons may be very different.

Rumors continue to spin, and negotiations on extending Messi’s contract continue, but his support actor may choose to retire or play elsewhere, and Miami’s time in South Florida has little to show.

A League Cup trophy and supporter's shield is not the silverware that MAS promised to introduce these players in 2023. The MLS record that breaks most scoring in a single season is most of Inter Miami's score at the end of this star-studded chapter.

Miami still has three chances to win trophy this season: MLS, League Cup and Club World Cup. Wednesday night's elimination was never clearer: there were few opportunities to win the silverware so longed for.