Inter Miami, led by Messi, wins the final of the Eastern Conference and thus reaches the top match in the MLS Cup

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami reached the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final for the first time on Saturday after a 5-1 thrashing of New York City FC in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

A hat trick from Tadeo Allende and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia ensured Miami advanced to the MLS championship match next Saturday on home court in Fort Lauderdale.

Miami will host the winner of the Western Conference finals, played between San Diego FC and Vancouver Whitecaps, later on Saturday.

Messi and his teammates will head into the match full of confidence after another brutal, high-scoring demolition job that followed their 4-0 thrashing of FC Cincinnati in the previous round.

Allende – who scored twice in the win over Cincinnati – was once again the focal point of Miami’s attack.

The 26-year-old Argentine forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute after cleverly avoiding New York’s offside trap.

A perfectly weighted ball from Sergio Busquets sent Allende racing through on goal, and the winger shrugged off Raul Gustavo’s challenge to score and make it 1-0.

New York had barely had time to deal with that early setback before going 2-0.

Miami’s former Spanish international fullback Jordi Alba found himself in an acre of space on the left flank and lasered a precise cross into the New York area.

Allende shot into a gap and timed his jump to perfection as he curled in a brilliant header, leaving New York goalkeeper Matthew Freese standing on the spot as the ball flew into the bottom corner.

However, Miami’s grip on the game loosened when New York scored against the run of play in the 37th minute, with centre-back Justin Haak heading home from Maxi Moralez’s free kick to make it 2–1 at half-time.

New York grew in confidence and might have equalized in the 66th minute when Nicolas Fernandez picked out substitute Julian Fernandez in the area.

Fernandez’s curling shot was clawed away by Inter goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, and the miss would prove crucial.

Miami immediately moved up the pitch, and a flowing move saw Rodrigo De Paul and Alba come together before Messi played a pass to Silvetti, who fired home to make it 3-1 after 67 minutes.

Segovia then erased any doubt with Miami’s fourth in the 83rd minute before Allende completed his hat-trick a minute from time to spark wild celebrations.

Published on November 30, 2025