Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will host Vancouver in the MLS Cup final after an impressive win against New York City FC.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano described Lionel Messi as “extraordinary” after the Argentine superstar thrashed New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday to send the club to its first Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final.
Tadeo Allende’s hat trick and goals from Matteo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia revitalized Miami heading into the championship game next Saturday at home in Fort Lauderdale.
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While Messi could not get on the scoresheet, the 38-year-old provided a vital, exquisite assist for Miami’s third goal scored by Silvetti, which ended the game as New York chased the equaliser.
“Leo has accustomed us to extraordinary things,” Mascherano said of his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate.
“He is an extraordinary person, the likes of whom we will never see again. Today, perhaps we are surprised that he did not score, but he gave us peace of mind with the third goal, an assist that only he can see. He practically sealed the game.”
Miami will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in next Saturday’s MLS showpiece.
Vancouver, led by former Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, advanced to the final by claiming the Western Conference crown with a dominant 3-1 win over San Diego in California on Saturday.
Messi and his teammates will head into the final with confidence after another brutal, high-scoring demolition job by thrashing FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the previous round.
Allende – who scored twice in the win over Cincinnati – was once again the focal point of the Miami attack.
The 26-year-old Argentinian forward opened the scoring by cleverly evading New York’s offside trap in the 14th minute and then scored a brilliant second to make it 2-0.
New York responded with a goal from Justin Hawk in the 37th minute and came close to equalizing when Julian Fernandez made a spectacular one-handed save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo in the 66th minute.
That near-miss was to prove crucial.
Miami immediately moved up the field and Rodrigo De Paul and Jordi Alba made a brilliant move, before Messi passed the pass to Silvetti, who scored to make the score 3–1.
‘unbreakable’
Segovia then ended any doubt with Miami’s fourth goal in the 83rd minute, before Allende completed his hat-trick a minute from time and sparked wild celebrations.
The win leaves Miami just one win away from completing a remarkable turnaround after a season that appeared to be in disarray following a series of losses early in the campaign.
Mascherano said, “We got stronger as a group and reached the end of the season with a brotherhood within the team, where everyone works together, and it doesn’t matter who starts.” “We are a group, and the power of a group is unbreakable.”
Meanwhile, Vancouver – which defeated Miami 5-1 when they met in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals in April – indicated they will be ready to take on a star-studded Florida team with a dominant performance to defeat San Diego.
The Canadian club got off to a dream start as Brian White gave them the lead after just eight minutes.
More relentless Vancouver pressure forced San Diego goalkeeper Pablo Cisniega to score an own goal three minutes later, and a second White goal on the stroke of half-time made it 3–0.
San Diego gave hope for an unexpected fightback when Mexico striker Hirving Lozano fired a long-range effort in the 60th minute.
But Vancouver consistently looked the more likely team to score, and Cisniega was shown a red card for bringing down Ryan Gould after the Whitecaps player fouled him on goal.
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