Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought again for an exciting 3-1 second-leg win over Los Angeles FC within the CONCACAF Champions Cup, prevailing 3-2 on combination.
Miami suffered their first defeat below Javier Mascherano within the first leg of the groups’ quarter-final tie final week, with Nathan Ordaz scoring the one purpose for LAFC.
And when Aaron Lengthy pounced on the second section of a nook to double LAFC’s combination lead 10 minutes into Wednesday’s second leg, Miami had a mountain to climb.
They thought they’d levelled on the evening when Messi whipped a 30-yard free-kick into the bottom-left nook whereas Hugo Lloris was nonetheless organising his wall, with visiting coach Steve Cherundolo livid on the sidelines.
Regardless of referee Cesar Arturo Ramos initially awarding the purpose, it was finally chalked off as he had not whistled after stopping the sport to guide Ryan Hollingshead.
Nevertheless, Messi was on the scoresheet 10 minutes earlier than half-time, taking in a deflected Luis Suarez move on the sting of the field and firing an unstoppable effort into the top-right nook.
HAD TO BE HIM pic.twitter.com/oJwaAgcUnG
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 10, 2025
Miami continued to press after half-time, and so they levelled the tie when Federico Redondo glanced Noah Allen’s dinked move past Lloris, organising a grandstand end.
Suarez noticed a deft header, teed up by Messi, disallowed for offside, however the decisive second got here when LAFC centre-back Marlon was penalised for handball following a nook.
That allowed Messi to nonchalantly beat Lloris from the penalty spot following a stutter in his run-up, within the 84th minute.
Marlon one way or the other prevented a second yellow card as the sport boiled over within the dying moments, and LAFC had an opportunity to win it on away targets deep into stoppage time, just for Oscar Ustari to disclaim Denis Bouanga when one-on-one.
Information debrief: Residence comforts for Messi
Whereas Miami have been uninspired in final week’s first leg, they’ll all the time have been assured of successful the tie in Fort Lauderdale, the place Messi feels proper at residence.
He has now been instantly concerned in not less than one purpose in 18 of his 19 residence video games with Miami because the begin of 2024, together with the final 12 in a row.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was at his good greatest right here, creating seven possibilities – not less than 4 greater than some other participant on the pitch.
He additionally led everybody on the pitch for touches (84), photographs on track (4) and anticipated targets (1 xG), main from the entrance as Miami booked a semi-final date with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
One step nearer. Vancouver Whitecaps awaits within the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. Vamos Miami pic.twitter.com/YY4hbMiEIv
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 10, 2025
