Inter Miami Wins 5-1, Advances to First-Ever MLS Cup Final

Inter Miami is heading to the MLS Cup final for the first time in club history.

The team crushed New York City FC 5-1 at Chase Stadium on Saturday night to win the Eastern Conference championship. Forward Tadeo Allende scored three goals to lead the way.

The match was a special night for Spanish stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who will retire after this season. Both longtime teammates of Lionel Messi helped set up Allende's first two goals.

Allende scored first in the 12th minute after receiving a long pass from Busquets. He added a second goal 11 minutes later, heading in a cross from Alba. New York's Justin Haak scored to make it 2-1, but Inter Miami pulled away in the second half.

Messi showed his magic in the 67th minute, assisting on Mateo Silvetti's goal. It was the 405th assist of his career—believed to be a world record. Telasco Segovia and Allende added late goals to complete the blowout.

Inter Miami will host the MLS Cup final on December 6 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Their opponent will be either San Diego or Vancouver.

The club's turnaround has been remarkable. When Messi joined midway through 2023, Inter Miami was last in the league standings. Now the team has won the 2023 Leagues Cup, earned the Supporters' Shield as the league's best regular-season team, and sits one win from a championship.

Saturday's crowd included tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and several U.S. women's national team players.

"Everyone in the world knows who Lionel Messi is," said U.S. women's forward Lindsay Horan. "I think everyone thought he would come in here and do exactly what he's done."

For Inter Miami fans across South Florida, December 6 can't come soon enough.