UNITED STATES: Inter Miami secured a 4-1 win over Philadelphia Union to advance to the Leagues Cup final, thanks to Lionel Messi’s nine goals in six games. Philadelphia, who advanced to last year’s MLS Cup final, were expected to face Miami’s toughest challenge. However, Miami’s Josef Martinez scored just three minutes into the match, giving them an early lead.
In the 20th minute, Messi scored a long-range effort past Union custodian Andre Blake, leaving him unprotected. Jordi Alba gave Miami a 3-0 lead before halftime, further demoralizing the Union.
Miami scored 21 goals in their past six games, with David Ruiz scoring in the 84th minute after Philadelphia pulled one back through Alejandro Bedoya in the 73rd minute. The Union was jeered by the crowd as they entered the locker room.
The Leagues Cup final will be Miami’s first in club history, and it will be against either CF Monterrey or Nashville SC, depending on the results of Tuesday’s games. Miami’s victory also guarantees them a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time ever the following year.
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, chose not to participate in the postgame interview after exchanging jerseys with Union striker Julián Carranza. Instead, he shared his message on Instagram with his 483 million followers.
Union coach Jim Curtin predicts that the Miami team will improve, but the team’s ownership will invest heavily to elevate them to the top of the league. Union owner Jay Sugarman confirmed that no plans were made to move the game from Subaru Park to Lincoln Financial Field, despite the potential for an additional 40,000+ spectators. Sugarman believes the game will remain where it is, despite the potential for additional capacity.
The Union, a top team in the Eastern Conference, won their first Supporters’ Shield trophy in 2020. Despite losing to LAFC in the MLS Cup, NBA star Kevin Durant was impressed by the Union’s potential and invested in the squad. This is a great league with a developing fan base, but you always need one game to really fire it up, Sugarman said.
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