Was that a hard shove by Sounders center back Yeimar? What about Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón's aggressiveness? And did Herons captain Lionel Messi have anything offensive to say to Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas as the adversaries walked side-by-side off the field at halftime?

Everything was scrutinized in Seattle's rematch against Miami on Tuesday. A given since the last time the teams played each other on Aug. 31, there was a massive brawl after the Sounders beat the Herons 3-0 to win their first Leagues Cup championship.

Surrounded by fans draped in pink, the Sounders left their fight to trying to claw their way back into a match they trailed at the break. It didn't happen, the Sounders leaving their first trip to Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a 3-1 loss.

Seattle (12-8-9) remains fourth in the Western Conference standings because Tuesday was the only league match. Los Angeles FC is a point behind the Sounders and plays Real Salt Lake in Utah on Wednesday.

Player-wise, MLS only punished Miami forward Luis Suárez for his actions during the Leagues Cup brawl. He served the second of a three-match suspension Tuesday for spitting on Seattle's head of security.

Suárez has 10 assists for Miami in league matches. Messi had to help handle the attack against the Sounders. And that magic was unlocked in the 12 minute.

Herons defender Yannick Bright picked off Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan and got a quick pass to Messi. The soccer legend timed the perfect pass to a racing Jordi Alba, who stared down Stefan Frei for the left-footed goal.

After hitting the post on an open look in the 28 minute, Messi took on Frei himself in the 41 minute. Bright bullied Sounders forward Paul Rothrock to get possession of the ball to Alba, who provided the cross into the box of a sliding Messi to score with this left foot.

The Herons took a 2-0 lead into the break that could've been bigger. Frei had four saves in the opening half, five in the match overall.

Seattle was hardly threatening in the match. Jesús Ferreira had an attempt in the 23 from outside the box that Miami keeper Óscar Ustari saved, and Sounders forward Osaze De Rosario had a header in the 30 minute blocked.

Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer made four lineup changes after a 2-2 draw against the LA Galaxy on Saturday -- five from the Leagues Cup match -- and then made another two changes to open the second half.

It didn't make much of a difference. Miami defender Ian Fray towered over midfielder Kalani Kossa-Rienzi to head a goal past Frei in the 52 minute. Sounders center back Kim Kee-hee wasn't on the field during the corner kick due to getting his hand inadvertently stepped on after a sliding tackle.

Down 3-0, Schmetzer subbed on forward Jordan Morris for De Rosario and Snyder Brunell for Roldan. Morris helped craft Seattle's goal with a cutback pass in the box to Vargas, who angled a left-footed shot past Ustari in the 69 minute.

De Rosario started up top in place of Danny Musovski. The former started and scored in the Leagues Cup win.

Sounders defender Nouhou was suspended for the tournament match due to a red shown in the semifinal and didn't start Saturday against LA due to a recent return from international duty. He started against Miami in place of Reed Baker-Whiting.

Georgi Minoungou manned the left wing with Rothrock switching to the right and Kossa-Rienzi moving back a line to replace Alex Roldan at right fullback.

Kim slotted in for Jackson Ragen and Frei remained in at keeper, a change from the Leagues Cup match where Andrew Thomas was in goal.

The Sounders will travel to Texas for their next match against Austin FC on Sunday.

Sounders fall to Lionel Messi, Inter Miami in first rematch since brawl