Messi’s Inter Miami Advances to MLS Cup Final with 5-1 Win over NYCFC in East Final
Lionel Messi will play for another trophy. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets clearly aren’t ready to begin their retirements, either.
Tadeo Allende scored three goals — Alba and Busquets, a pair of longtime Messi teammates who will retire when this season ends, had the assists on his first two — and Inter Miami topped New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final.
Mateo Silvetti scored in the 67th minute for Inter Miami, with Messi setting up that goal — the 405th assist of his career for club and country, which is generally believed to be the most in soccer history, The Associated Press reported.
Telasco Segovia scored off a heel pass from Alba in the 83rd minute to turn it into a runaway, and Allende finishing off the hat trick in the 89th minute was the final play.
“We have reached the final with a brotherhood of moving forward,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “The power of one group can overcome many things.”
Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz brought the East trophy onto the field to present to Inter Miami’s ownership, before it was handed to Messi. Fireworks, confetti and a ton of happy photos and hugs followed, but it was also clear this wasn’t the trophy Inter Miami wants most.
“We have made a fantastic playoff run and are very deserving of reaching the final,” Silvetti said in Spanish.
Inter Miami — the No. 3 seed in the East — will play host to Vancouver for the league title on Dec. 6 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Vancouver topped San Diego 3-1 later Saturday night for the Western Conference title.
It’ll be the first MLS final appearance for Inter Miami, which had never made it past the opening postseason round in any of its first five seasons. Messi’s club went 0-2 against Vancouver this season, losing both legs of a semifinal meeting in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by a 5-1 aggregate.
Justin Haak scored in the 37th minute for NYCFC, which went 0-2-1 against Inter Miami this season.
