Lionel Messi's Brace Sends Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup Semi-Finals

Messi's brace leads Inter Miami to a dramatic comeback win over LAFC, securing a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought back from 2-0 down on aggregate against Los Angeles FC with a 3-1 win (3-2 on aggregate) to move into the last four of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Messi's brace proved decisive in a frantic, chaotic, and entertaining encounter.

Messi showed he retains the passion and aggression needed for a battle, chasing down opponents and putting in challenges in the final minutes of stoppage time as his team just about hung on for the win. His display left his coach and former Argentina and Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano describing the forward as the “soul” of the team.

“He's a guy who has already done everything in football, he's the greatest in history and he continues to set an example of how to compete,” said Mascherano, highlighting Messi's enduring impact on the game.

“Until the last day he plays on a pitch he's going to want to win and he's going to do the impossible to win. And it's not just about wanting to, you also have to be able to, and he has that ability,” said Mascherano, highlighting Messi's enduring impact on the game. Trailing 1-0 from the first-leg, Miami found themselves in big trouble when Aaron Long put LAFC ahead in the ninth minute. After Miami keeper Oscar Ustari punched a corner out, Mark Delgado knocked the ball into the box and in the scramble Nathan Ordaz laid off to Long and the defender fired home. With Long's goal carrying extra weight as the away goals rule remains in place in CONCACAF's club competition, Miami knew they had to score three times to stay alive in the tournament.

Another goal was needed to secure passage to the semi-finals, and the home crowd thought they had it when Suarez headed in a cross from Messi, but the assistant referee ruled the Uruguayan forward was offside. The lifeline came when Miami appealed for a handball by Marlon in a crowded tussle in the box, and a VAR review found that the Brazilian defender had handled. Messi tucked the 84th-minute spot kick into the corner to complete the comeback for Miami and earn them a place in the last four.

Steve Cherundolo, the former USA international now coach of LAFC, said his team had paid the price for not putting the game to bed with a second goal after taking the lead. “We created some high-quality chances throughout the match and then it gets hectic. You know there's antics on the sidelines with the referees and benches, that's the standard here and in this competition that's part of it,” he said. Mascherano accepted his team were far from perfect but was delighted with the fight they showed. “We have a lot of things to improve but this is the way. This is the way to play football. We tried to give everything, 100%, with some mistakes but...until the end fighting, giving everything,” he said.