Inter Miami experienced a historic night at Chase Stadium by defeating New York City FC 5-1, becoming champions of the Eastern Conference and securing, for the first time in its history, a place in the MLS final.
The team of Lionel Messi -which did not require his usual brilliance- delivered a dominant performance supported by a hat-trick from Tadeo Allende, along with goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia.
The team coached by Javier Mascherano thus secured an almost perfect postseason and keeps alive the hope of adding a new title to its short but rapid history.
A seamless exhibition
Allende was the undisputed standout of the night. The Argentine opened the scoring by controlling a long pass from Sergio Busquets for 1-0 and extended the lead with a header from a precise cross by Jordi Alba. His first two goals came before the 25-minute mark and set the pace for the match.
Justin Haak scored in the 37th minute and kept NYCFC in the game at halftime, but only symbolically: Inter Miami never lost control.
Messi, who sustained a blow to the head in the first minutes and then a foul that left him on the ground for a few seconds, remained on the field without any major issues.
Although he didn't make decisive plays in the first half, he ended up being key afterward: in the 67th minute, he assisted Silvetti with a deep pass, allowing the young player to finish with a cross and secure the 3-1 score.
With that action, the captain reached 405 official assists between clubs and the national team, a figure that is considered the highest recorded in the history of football.
Telasco Segovia contributed to the score with a superb play: he exchanged passes with Alba in the area and finished with a masterful back-heel from the Spanish full-back.
At 89 minutes, Allende completed his hat trick for the final score of 5-1, sealing a commanding team performance.
The strength of the team was also upheld by their goalkeeper, Rocco Ríos Novo, who made key saves, including an intervention in the 65th minute against a cross shot that prevented NYCFC from equalizing.
The road to the final
The growth of Inter Miami was captured in their journey through the postseason.
The team, which finished third in the East during the regular season, defeated Nashville in a series that required three games: they won 3-1 and 4-0 in Miami, with a loss of 2-1 in Tennessee that forced a tiebreaker.
Then, they crushed Cincinnati 4-0 in the semifinals before the victory against New York City.
In total, he scored 13 goals and conceded only one in his last three matches.
The transformation of the club since Messi's arrival in 2023, when it was at the bottom of the league, contrasts sharply with the reality of its first five seasons, during which it never advanced beyond the initial round of the Playoffs.
The conquest of the Supporters' Shield in 2023 and the title of Leagues Cup were the first steps; now, the team is one game away from being crowned MLS champions.
Coach Javier Mascherano, who took over following Gerardo Martino's departure, highlighted the spirit of the group: "We have reached the final with a camaraderie that pushes us forward. The strength of a group can overcome many things," he stated after the victory.
An unprecedented final and a repeated challenge
Inter Miami will host the final on December 6, where they will face Vancouver Whitecaps, who triumphed 3-1 over San Diego FC to claim the Western title.
It will be the first time that the Garzas compete for the MLS title.
But the match will have a special twist: Vancouver defeated Miami in both official encounters this season, played in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, with an impressive aggregate score of 5-1. The clash in the MLS will not only be historic but also a chance for revenge.
The Messi era, on the rise
Since the arrival of the Argentine star, the club's impact has gone beyond sports: its pink jersey is sold worldwide, and the team is making progress on the construction of a new stadium.
Messi has a contract until 2028 and is shaping up as a strong candidate to win the MLS Most Valuable Player award again.
Now, after conquering the Eastern Conference with one of the strongest performances of the season, Inter Miami is on the verge of another milestone.
The party in Florida continues: this time, with the first MLS final in its history and the dream of the title within reach.
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