Lionel Messi starred in Inter Miami’s dominant 4-0 win over Cincinnati on Sunday, propelling the club to its first MLS Eastern Conference final. Messi contributed to all four goals, scoring once and setting up three others in a masterclass performance at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
Tadeo Allende scored a second-half brace, while Mateo Silvetti, 19, also netted a goal and recorded an assist, helping Miami continue its deepest MLS Cup Playoff run in club history. The victory sets up a clash with No. 5 seed New York City FC, who eliminated Philadelphia Union 1-0 in the other semifinal.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, was knocked out at home for the third consecutive postseason, falling just short of reaching its second East final.
Messi’s Magic
Miami’s 4-0 triumph marked their second consecutive 4-0 playoff win, following a decisive victory over Nashville in round one. Manager Javier Mascherano opted to leave out key striker Luis Suarez, previously Messi’s Barcelona teammate, who served a red-card suspension in the Nashville match. Despite Suarez’s 10 goals and 10 assists in the regular season, Messi and Miami’s youthful front line dominated the postseason.
Messi now has six goals and six assists in the playoffs, contributing to every single Miami tally. This follows a regular season in which he scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists, likely securing a second consecutive MLS MVP award.
Match Highlights
Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute, meeting an outswinging cross from Silvetti with a precise header past goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Silvetti doubled the lead in the 57th minute, following a smooth sequence that started with a throw-in and a Messi layoff, curling the ball past the goalkeeper.
Allende completed his brace in the 62nd and 74th minutes, both times capitalizing on quick transitions orchestrated by Messi. The Argentine maestro repeatedly set the tempo, breaking down Cincinnati’s defense with vision and precision.
With this win, Inter Miami has firmly established themselves as serious MLS Cup contenders, with Messi continuing to shine as the driving force behind their historic postseason run.
