April 10, (THEWILL) – Inter Miami CF have progressed to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals following a dramatic 3-1 victory against LAFC at Chase Stadium on Thursday. The win gave the Florida outfit a 3-2 aggregate triumph after overcoming a two-goal deficit from the first leg. The remarkable turnaround was orchestrated by captain, Lionel Messi, who contributed two goals and an assist in a commanding performance.
The match began with LAFC extending their aggregate advantage when Aaron Long found the net early in the contest, putting Inter Miami in a precarious position. However, the home side responded emphatically with Messi scoring a powerful strike into the top corner before the interval, initiating the comeback that would eventually see them through to the next round.
The momentum shifted further in Miami’s favour after half-time when Messi turned provider, setting up Noah Allen for the equalising goal in the 61st minute following a period of sustained pressure. With the aggregate score level at 2-2, LAFC still held the advantage on away goals, meaning Inter Miami required another strike to advance in the competition.
The decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute when LAFC defender Marlon was penalised for handball following a Video Review intervention. Messi stepped up to face former French international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and converted the penalty with typical composure, sending Chase Stadium into raptures and completing the comeback that seemed improbable at the start of the evening.
Inter Miami will now face either Pumas UNAM from Mexico or Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the semi-finals, with a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup final at stake. The victory represents another significant step forward for the club in continental competition, with their captain once again proving instrumental in their pursuit of silverware.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
