Messi scores 36-yard stunner as Inter Miami reach league cup final
Argentine football legend, Lionel Messi ripped a shot from over 30-yards past three Philadelphia defenders in the 20th minute of a match played on Tuesday evening, helping Inter Miami reach their first major final in club history.
Inter Miami took the lead in the match just three minutes into the game. Josef Martinez found the bottom corner to give the visiting team the perfect start. Messi wasn’t involved in the opening goal, but announced his arrival at Subaru Park with a stunning goal from 36 yards to double their lead inside 20 minutes. It was the Argentine’s ninth goal in six matches with his new team.
LIONEL MESSI WHAT A GOAL 🤯
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) August 15, 2023
Jordi Alba punished Philadelphia late in the first half to open his account for Miami, rushing forward and lifting his effort past Andre Blake after Robert Taylor played him through. The second half remained frantic, with Philadelphia missing multiple chances to score before Alejandro Bedoya finally pulled one back on 73 minutes, converting with a clever finish following a corner.
But if the game wasn’t already done, substitute David Ruiz scored his second career goal for Miami and dashed any hope of a late comeback.
Over the past four seasons Philadelphia Union have been one of the best teams in MLS, if not the best consistently. They won the Supporters Shield in 2020 and also won their division last season, although they’ve failed to lift the MLS Cup during their recent period of dominance.
They were seconds away from winning the MLS Cup last season until Gareth Bale became the hero for LAFC, and in this League Cup tournament, they only conceded four goals. Philadelphia Union and every other team that’s faced Miami with Messi has crumbled.
Inter Miami will play against Nashville in the League’s final on Sunday, August 20. Nashville booked their place in the showpiece affair with a 2-0 win over Monterrey.
