In a thrilling encounter at Chase Stadium, Lionel Messi showcased his extraordinary talent once again, scoring two goals and providing an assist to propel Inter Miami to a remarkable 3-1 comeback victory over LAFC, clinching a 3-2 aggregate win in Leg 2 of the Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC) quarterfinals. Head coach Javier Mascherano expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We wanted to reach the semis, and I think that was apparent. With mistakes and good moments, in the end, we wanted it more, and we made it happen."
The match began with an unexpected challenge for Inter Miami as Aaron Long scored for LAFC just five minutes in, putting the Herons in a position where they needed to score three unanswered goals due to the away-goals tiebreaker. Chaos erupted as Miami turned to their iconic No. 10, Messi, to spearhead the comeback while simultaneously absorbing relentless pressure from the visitors who sensed an upset was possible. "I don’t want to lie to myself or to anyone here," Mascherano said. "We knew the game got very difficult, but when I saw they couldn’t put the game away in those first 20 minutes and gave us a lifeline, I saw Leo score that first goal that didn’t count, and I felt we were taking control of the game."
Messi capitalized on a rare first-half mistake by LAFC, driving home the team's opening goal. Following this, he assisted Noah Allen in scoring the aggregate equalizer before sealing the victory with a perfectly executed penalty kick in the dying minutes. Mascherano remarked, "He’s the soul of this team. There’s no doubt. He’s done it all in the game and is the greatest in history. He shows the way and competes with an unmatched desire to win."
The match was characterized by a frantic pace and non-stop action, making it a spectacle for fans. However, for Mascherano, it was a bit too hectic. "The level of this game was too high because we faced a team that plays really well, with great players," he noted. "Coming back is never easy, especially when you have to maintain your composure." Despite a rocky start, the Herons demonstrated resilience, shifting the momentum in their favor as the match progressed. "The first 25 minutes, they were much better than us. Maybe they deserved to score another goal, but they gave us one more life, and we did our job," Mascherano added.
With this victory, Inter Miami secured a spot in their first CCC semifinal, where they will face Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who advanced after eliminating Pumas UNAM from LIGA MX with a last-minute goal in their quarterfinal series. The winner of this matchup will earn a spot in the final on June 1, competing against either Cruz Azul or Tigres UANL, ensuring another exciting MLS vs. LIGA MX clash. Noah Allen reflected on the significance of the win, stating, "We want to win this tournament; it’s been our goal since the first day of preseason. This was the perfect performance to head into the semifinal."
Despite the early frustrations of going down in the first 15 minutes, Allen emphasized the team’s unity: "We kept our heads, didn’t let it get to us. They’re a great team with a great coach and players, but we showed our quality and togetherness. With this type of camaraderie, we can win the whole tournament."
