Inter Miami vs Cavalier

Cavalier will try to pull off a huge upset starting on Thursday when they travel to Chase Stadium to play the tournament favorites Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) round of 16 match.

The current Jamaican Premier League champions got a bye into this phase by winning the 2024 Caribbean Cup, while the Herons defeated Sporting Kansas City 4-1 on aggregate in the first round.

Miami left no question in that rematch after a close first leg triumph (1-0) in the chilly Kansas City, leading 3-0 at halftime and moving forward with ease.

They have reached the last 16 of this tournament for the second consecutive season, having progressed past this stage last year with a 5-3 aggregate win over Nashville SC.

Over the weekend, Javier Mascherano secured his first MLS victory as the team's manager, as the Herons triumphed 4-1 against the Houston Dynamo.

Their 3-1 home win over SKC last month marked the Argentine coach’s first home victory in regular time since taking charge in late November 2024.

On Thursday, Miami has the chance to secure their first-ever Champions Cup win against a non-MLS opponent, having lost both quarter-final matches against Monterrey in last year’s tournament.

Since their goalless draw with Peruvian side Universitario in late January, the Herons have scored 20 goals across their last seven matches, spanning friendlies, the regular season, and this competition.

For the first time, Cavalier are just two games away from reaching the Champions Cup quarter-finals after securing a narrow victory in the 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup final last year.

Under the guidance of Rudolph Speid, the Kingston-based team had an impressive run last season, clinching the league title for the first time since 2021 with three consecutive wins to close out the campaign.

However, the 2024-25 season has proven more challenging, as they currently sit fourth in the standings, trailing league leaders Mount Pleasant by 18 points.

Cavalier enter this match on a three-game winning streak away from home, with all those victories coming in the Jamaican Premier League, where they have outscored opponents 7-2.

In the previous Caribbean Cup, their performances outside Jamaica were less convincing. They failed to win either of their away matches, including a 2-1 second-leg loss to Dominican Republic’s Cibao. However, they still lifted the trophy on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate result.

This will be only their second encounter with an MLS team in this tournament. Their first ended in a heavy defeat, as they lost 6-0 on aggregate to FC Cincinnati last year, including a 4-0 loss on the road.