Messi Shines Again as Inter Miami Complete Comeback to Reach CONCACAF Champions Cup Semi-Finals
In a thrilling and chaotic encounter, Messi’s decisive penalty in the 84th minute sealed the win after a frantic fight back from Miami, who were trailing 2-0 on aggregate going into the second leg.
Lionel Messi once again proved his game-changing ability, scoring twice as Inter Miami mounted a dramatic comeback to defeat Los Angeles FC 3-1 on Wednesday, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory and a spot in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In a thrilling and chaotic encounter, Messi’s decisive penalty in the 84th minute sealed the win after a frantic fight back from Miami, who were trailing 2-0 on aggregate going into the second leg. Messi, 37, not only showcased his technical brilliance but also displayed the passion and aggression needed for a tough battle, chasing down opponents and putting in vital challenges in the closing moments of stoppage time.
Javier Mascherano, Messi’s former teammate at both Argentina and Barcelona, described the forward as the “soul” of the team, adding, “He’s the greatest in history, and he continues to set an example of how to compete.”
Miami’s task was clear after losing 1-0 in the first leg: they needed three goals to keep their hopes alive. However, their challenge intensified when Aaron Long gave LAFC the lead in the ninth minute, leaving them needing three goals to progress.
Messi quickly responded, combining with Luis Suarez for a goal in the 35th minute, but Miami still needed two more. They went ahead 2-1 on the night when a ball from Noah Allen evaded both LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris and Miami’s Federico Redondo, finding its way into the net.
A potential third goal was disallowed when Suarez’s header was ruled offside, but Miami’s lifeline came in the 84th minute. A VAR review determined that LAFC’s Marlon had handled the ball in the box, and Messi calmly converted the penalty to complete the turnaround.
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo admitted his team paid the price for not putting the game away after taking the lead, while Mascherano praised his team’s resilience: “We have a lot to improve, but this is the way to play football. We gave everything, 100%, fighting until the end.”
