CINCINNATI — Inter Miami CF beat FC Cincinnati 4-0 at TQL Stadium on Sunday night to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in club history.
Captain Lionel Messi took a pass from Mateo Silvetti and scored on a header in the 19th minute for the first goal of the night. Messi then assisted on the second goal by setting up Silvetti, who rocketed the ball into the lower right corner of the net from the left side of the field.
Tadeo Allende added to Inter Miami’s lead with goals in the 62nd and 74th minutes — both from Messi assists — to seal the win for Miami.
With his stellar night, Messi set an MLS playoff record with 12 goal contributions (six goals, six assists) in a single postseason.
Luis Suárez, who missed Miami’s final Round One match against Nashville because of a suspension, entered the game in the second half to replace Allende for the final minutes.
Inter Miami failed to beat FC Cincinnati during the 2025 MLS regular season, losing 3-0 on the road and drawing 0-0 at home without Jordi Alba and Messi on the pitch for the second match.
But coach Javier Mascherano insisted that Miami entered Sunday’s game prepared for the challenge, and Messi helped prove his coach right in front of a sold-out crowd of 25,513 in Cincinnati.
Miami will prepare to face New York City FC, which beat the Philadelphia Union later on Sunday, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Nov. 29.
Cincinnati had the second-best overall record in MLS behind Philadelphia after winning the Supporters Shield in 2024 before losing to the Columbus Crew in last year’s conference finals.