Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have secured a historic spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals after a thrilling comeback victory over Los Angeles FC.
Coming into Wednesday’s match trailing 1-0 on aggregate following LAFC’s narrow win in Southern California last week, Inter Miami needed a big performance—and they delivered. Despite going down 2-0 on aggregate early in the second leg, the team roared back with three unanswered goals to clinch the two-leg series.
Unlike the UEFA Champions League, which scrapped the away goals rule, the Concacaf tournament still uses the rule to break ties after 180 minutes of play. That was LAFC’s long ball, which had their aggregate margin, would avoid extra time even if Miami had two.
But just before half-time, Messi gave Miami a lifeline through a scintillating goal, pumping life into the home fans and turning the momentum around. Barely minutes into half-time, 20-year-old hometown boy Noah Allen scored, and the aggregate tally was 2-2.
The clincher came late in the game when LAFC had committed a handball inside the box. Messi stepped up nonchalantly and put the penalty kick into the back of the net, tying the match and sending Inter Miami to the first-ever Champions Cup semifinals in its history.
It was another highlight-reel performance from the all-time great, one that reaffirmed why he’s regarded as the best player of all time.
