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Inter Miami Reaches Leagues Cup Final As Messi Inspires Win Over Orlando
Lionel Messi once again proved why he’s football’s greatest, scoring in two late goals as Inter Miami mounted a stunning comeback to beat Orlando City 3-1.
The win sent them to the Leagues Cup final on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium.
The Argentine great, who had missed Miami’s previous two matches with a right thigh injury, delivered when it mattered most, converting a penalty in the 77th minute before linking up beautifully with former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba to fire home in the 88th.
Orlando Strike First
Despite Miami’s dominance in possession, it was Orlando who drew first blood just before halftime. In stoppage time, Luis Muriel slipped a clever pass into the box, only for Inter defender Maximiliano Falcón’s attempted clearance to ricochet straight to Croatia’s Marco Pašalić.
With composure, Pašalić rifled a left-footed strike past Drake Callender to silence the crowd.
Inter players appealed for handball, insisting the ball struck Pašalić’s arm in the buildup, but a VAR check upheld the decision, confirming the goal.
Having already beaten Miami twice this season by an aggregate score of 7-1, including a dominant 4-1 rout earlier this month, Orlando looked poised to frustrate their rivals once more.
Miami’s Frustrations and Turning Point
The second half began with Miami probing for an equalizer. Luis Suárez forced a strong save from Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, while Messi found himself swarmed by defenders each time he ventured into the box.
From the stands, Inter coach Javier Mascherano, serving a suspension after a red card in the quarter-final against Tigres UANL, looked visibly tense as his side struggled to break through.
Orlando had a chance to extend their lead in the 59th minute, when Sergio Busquets appeared to foul Iván Angulo in the penalty area.
However, Guatemalan referee Walter López waved away the appeals, much to the frustration of the visitors.
That moment proved pivotal. The tide turned in Miami’s favor in the 74th minute when substitute Tadeo Allende was dragged down by David Brekalo inside the penalty area.
Already on a booking, Brekalo received a second yellow and his marching orders, leaving Orlando to finish the game with 10 men.
Messi Takes Over
With the pressure on, Messi stepped up to the spot and dispatched a clinical penalty past Gallese, firing low into the right corner to level the game at 1-1.
The Argentine delivered again just 11 minutes later. Combining with Jordi Alba, rekindling the chemistry that defined their Barcelona glory days, Messi latched onto a perfectly weighted pass and slotted home his second of the night.
Segovia then added a third deep into injury time, putting the game beyond doubt and confirming Miami’s place in yet another final.
What It Means
Inter Miami’s comeback emphasizes their resilience and star power. Messi’s return from injury could not have been more decisive, while the supporting cast of Suárez, Busquets, and Alba all played their part in keeping the pressure on Orlando until the breakthrough came.
For Orlando, it was a bitter defeat after twice humbling their rivals earlier this season. They will now compete in the third-place match, with the top three teams earning berths in the expanded 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
