Messi Leads Miami 3-1 Past LAFC, Advances to CONCACAF Semis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a stunning 3-1 victory over LAFC, overturning a 2-0 aggregate deficit to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. With two goals, including a decisive penalty, Messi propelled Miami to a 3-2 series win. The club will now face Vancouver in the next round.
Messi’s Magic Sends Inter Miami to Semifinals: Quick Looks
- Inter Miami erased a 2-0 aggregate deficit with a 3-1 win over LAFC.
- Lionel Messi scored twice, including the game-winning penalty in the 84th minute.
- Messi’s goals brought his total to 42 in 48 appearances with Inter Miami.
- The comeback secured Miami’s first-ever berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
- Messi faced Hugo Lloris, the LAFC goalkeeper he beat in the 2022 World Cup final.
- Oscar Ustari made two critical late saves to preserve the victory.
- Inter Miami will play the Vancouver Whitecaps in a two-leg semifinal series.
- Aaron Long scored early for LAFC, putting Miami in a deeper 2-0 hole.
- Miami’s fluke second goal tied the aggregate before Messi’s penalty sealed it.
- Luis Suarez had a potential goal disallowed due to offside in the 67th minute.
Messi Leads Miami 3-1 Past LAFC, Advances to CONCACAF Semis
Deep Look
Lionel Messi delivered another vintage performance on Wednesday night, engineering a thrilling comeback that sent Inter Miami into the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals for the first time in club history. Facing a 2-0 deficit on aggregate and trailing 1-0 on the night, Messi scored twice, including a clutch penalty in the 84th minute, to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over LAFC and a 3-2 aggregate win in the two-leg quarterfinal series.
The night began ominously for Inter Miami after Aaron Long scored for LAFC in the ninth minute, giving the visitors a commanding 2-0 lead on aggregate and activating the away-goal tiebreaker. For Miami to advance, they now needed three unanswered goals — a tall order by any measure.
But Messi had other plans.
In the 35th minute, the Argentine legend ignited the comeback, slicing through LAFC’s defense near the top of the box and scoring with his iconic left-footed finish to level the match at 1-1. That goal also reignited the crowd and Miami’s hopes, injecting urgency into a match that had been slipping away.
The turning point came in the 61st minute with a bizarre but pivotal goal. A Noah Allen chip intended for Federico Redondo bounced unpredictably on the pitch, eluding both Redondo and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before settling in the back of the net. Initially credited to Allen, the goal was later awarded to Redondo with Allen picking up the assist — and Messi also noted for his role in the buildup.
The goal tied the series 2-2 on aggregate, but LAFC still had the advantage thanks to the away-goal rule.
Just minutes later, Luis Suarez appeared to give Inter Miami the lead, heading in a beautiful Messi cross in the 67th minute. However, the goal was quickly ruled out for offside, frustrating the home side but fueling their determination to press on.
Inter’s relentless attack finally paid off in the 84th minute, when a handball in the box was called against LAFC. Messi stepped up to the spot and, with his trademark poise, froze Lloris, sending the ball gently into the right side of the net. The goal gave Miami a 3-1 lead on the night and a 3-2 edge overall, completing the remarkable comeback.
For Messi, it was a moment that mirrored his heroics in the 2022 World Cup final, where he also beat Lloris from the penalty spot. Once again, under the brightest lights, Messi delivered.
Oscar Ustari played a key role in the final minutes, making two clutch saves to preserve the result and ensure Inter Miami’s progression to the next round.
After the final whistle, coach Javier Mascherano pumped his fists in celebration, reflecting on his team’s resilience. “They believed,” he said. “This is the way to play football. They gave everything.”
Inter Miami will now face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals, with the first leg scheduled between April 22–24. Vancouver secured their spot after a separate quarterfinal victory earlier in the evening.
With Messi in peak form and the team showing heart and determination, Inter Miami’s quest for continental glory is alive and well — and perhaps, just getting started.
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