Messi bags a brace as Inter Miami beat Orlando to reach Leagues Cup final 🏆 | OneFootball

Inter Miami, with Lionel Messi as the star, reached the final of the Leagues Cup 2025 after defeating Orlando City by 3-1 in a match played at the Chase Stadium in Miami. A double from the Argentine forward, the first from a penalty, plus the remaining goal from Telasco Segovia were decisive in turning the game around, after the goal from Mario Pašalić.

The start of the match reflected the intensity characteristic of these regional classics. Orlando City, led by Colombian Oscar Pareja, took the lead shortly before the end of the first half after a play in which Muriel assisted Mario Pašalić, who scored with a high shot after the rejection by Maximiliano Falcón. The goal was reviewed by VAR, which confirmed that there was no handball in the previous action.

The reaction of the team led by Javier Mascherano was evident at the beginning of the second half. A penalty on Tadeo Allende allowed Lionel Messi to equalize the score with a cross shot. "Our captain never misses from the penalty spot," the club celebrated on social media, highlighting the Argentine's precision against goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

A few plays later, Messi reappeared to finish a collective play with Jordi Alba on the left wing. The Rosario native scored to the far post and consolidated the comeback, in front of the watching fans.

Seconds later, the Venezuelan Segovia played a one-two with Lucho Suárez and scored over the goalkeeper.

In this way, Inter Miami reached its second final in the last three editions and will seek to repeat the title won in 2023. Its rival will come from the winner of the clash between Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders who will play in the last match.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.