Joao Neves potted two goals before a Miami own goal and a strike by Achraf Hakimi bloated the margin to four by halftime.
Oscar Ustari recorded six saves for Inter Miami, while PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make just three after Miami was held without a shot attempt for the first 50 minutes. PSG finished with a 19-7 shots advantage and about two-thirds of the possession.
“I am of course very satisfied with my players’ game,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.
“I think we started the game in the best way, with the intensity we needed. I think the second (half) was a little different, because the score conditioned it. They are very high-quality players. In the end, we are in the quarterfinals and we are happy.”
This was Messi’s first time facing PSG since leaving the club and coming to America two years ago. His match-winner against FC Porto in the group stage stood as his lone goal of the tournament.
Miami was the only Major League Soccer club to advance to the knockout stage after Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders were eliminated from their respective groups.
“The most important thing is that we were working hard, we were playing well during this tournament,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said in a TV interview after the match.
“We knew that today was going to be very, very difficult because they are probably the best team in the world.” (Reuters)