Allende scores twice as Miami rout Cincinnati 4-0 to reach club’s first Eastern Conference final
Inter Miami reached their first-ever Eastern Conference final in style, beating FC Cincinnati 4-0 on the road with Lionel Messi starring in a record-setting performance. Messi scored with a first-half header and set up three more goals, moving to 12 total postseason goal contributions—six goals and six assists, to break a single-playoff MLS record.
Cincinnati, who finished the regular season with the second-best record in MLS, began brightly but couldn’t solve Miami’s well-drilled defense and the brilliance of Messi in transition. The Argentine opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing a give-and-go with 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti, who delivered an outswinging cross for Messi to head home, his 11th goal in seven games. Minutes later, Messi missed a chance to double the lead when he dragged a shot just wide.
The match remained open into the second half before Miami took firm control. In the 57th minute, Messi turned provider, playing a smart layoff for Silvetti, whose curling finish doubled the lead and capped a memorable night for the emerging striker. Ten minutes later, Messi split the Cincinnati defense with an incisive through ball to Tadeo Allende, who made it 3-0. Allende added a fourth, again from a Messi assist, securing a comfortable rout for Javier Mascherano’s side.
Miami’s blend of experience and youth was on full display, with Luis Suárez starting on the bench and Silvetti seizing his opportunity in attack. FC Cincinnati had beaten Miami earlier in the summer but could not generate the same clinical edge this time, with Ender Echenique and Evander missing their best first-half chance. Cincinnati now exit the postseason after a third straight home playoff defeat.
Messi’s playmaking, combining vision, composure, and technical brilliance, built on a regular season in which he scored 29 goals and added 19 assists, and he is now poised to lead Miami into the biggest match in club history. With the victory, Miami advance to host New York City FC in the conference final, just one win from reaching the MLS Cup.
Miami’s statement win underlines their title credentials and keeps Messi’s remarkable MLS debut season on track for one more historic finish. As Mascherano noted, “It’s an honour to manage Leo and this group of players. Today, the team played a practically perfect match.”
