Lionel Messi scores and assists three goals as Inter Miami crush FC Cincinnati 4-0 to reach Eastern Conference final against New York City FC.
LIONEL Messi delivered a masterclass performance as Inter Miami demolished FC Cincinnati 4-0 to advance to the Eastern Conference championship.
The Argentine superstar scored once and provided assists for all three other Miami goals in Sunday’s MLS playoff victory.
Tadeo Allende scored twice while Mateo Silvetti added another goal to secure Miami’s place in next Saturday’s conference final.
Inter Miami will host New York City FC to decide a berth in the MLS Cup final after NYCFC upset top seed Philadelphia 1-0 in the other match.
Maxi Moralez scored the only goal in the 27th minute to advance New York City, the 2021 MLS Cup champions.
Third-seeded Miami will enter next weekend’s fixture brimming with confidence after their dominant display against second seeds Cincinnati.
Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised Messi and his teammates after what he described as a near-perfect performance.
“I’m proud of how the team played on a very difficult pitch against a very difficult opponent,” Mascherano said.
“The players showed incredible character and played a practically perfect match.”
A sold-out crowd of just over 26,000 packed Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium hoping to see the home side score an upset.
Cincinnati paid for failing to take their chances in a bright opening, with Kevin Denkey forcing a good save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo after 15 minutes.
Miami took the lead moments later when Messi found Silvetti with an incisive pass down the left flank.
Silvetti returned the favor with a pinpoint cross that Messi coolly headed home to make it 1-0.
Cincinnati squandered a chance to equalize in the 22nd minute when Ender Echenique burst into space but dragged his shot wide.
Inter’s incisive attacking play got its reward on 57 minutes when Messi found Silvetti on the edge of the area, where the Argentina under-20 international curled home to make it 2-0.
As desperate Cincinnati chased the game, more space opened up for Miami to exploit.
Messi threaded a pass to Allende to make it 3-0 on 62 minutes, then sprang the offside trap again on 74 minutes to set up Allende for the fourth.
The winners of next Saturday’s Eastern and Western Conference finals meet in the MLS Cup championship on December 6.
Vancouver will play in the West final against the winner of Monday’s matchup between top-seed San Diego and Minnesota United. – AFP
