Lionel Messi’s late-game heroics lift Inter Miami past Orlando City and into Leagues Cup final

Lionel Messi was again the star of the show for Under Miami, scored a second half brace to ensure that his party would come to Orlando City on Wednesday with a 3-1 win and booked the place of the Herons in the final of the Leagues Cup in the trial.

Miami was the second best in the first half in which Orlando had surpassed them eight to five and the prize paid with Marco Pasalic’s Goal in the first minute of the stopping time for the break. Javier Mascherano’s The side was much more aggressive in the second half, which limited Orlando to zero shots, although the game finally tilted to their advantage when David Brekalo was sent after a fine in the 75th minute.

It paved the way for Messi’s Brace, the first goal that came through a penalty that he easily walked in the right side of the net. It was his fifth shot of the game, but his first on goal – although it would not be his last.

Messi added a second goal 11 minutes later to his account, one that gave Miami a long -awaited lead. Messi received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and played it quickly Jordi Alba On the left, who returned the favor almost immediately. From there, Messi hit the ball with his left foot from close by, easily past Orlando -goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

The Argentina International also played a role in Miami’s third goal in the first minute of the stopping time and played a long pass to Alba from the area of ​​the halfway through the line, and founded Alba to help Tabasco SegoviaThe goal.

Miami plays the La Galaxy or the Seattle Sounders On Sunday in the final of the Leagues Cup, which is expected to take place on the west coast.

Inter Miami’s search for trophies

For the first time since 2023, Miami returns to the Leagues Cup final, where Messi played his first games for the club during the competition of that year. De Herons then won the competition and lifted the very first title of the club, followed that up with a trip to the US Open Cup final of 2023 and then lifted MLS Supporters Shield in 2024. It is an impressive trek for Messi and Company, Reversing Course for a young club with little history of worldbar winnaar the success for the World Cycle Winwwinnaar 2025 season.

However, the Leagues Cup bears its own weight. By reaching the final, Miami has guaranteed a place in the 2026 edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the top three teams of the Leagues Cup that automatically qualified for the competition. The continental price is also important for Miami, who went to the semi-final in 2025 before he lost 5-1 to aggregated from fellow MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.