Lionel Messi’s great play, which included two goals in the last 15 minutes, helped Inter Miami come back to beat Orlando City 3-1 and earn a spot in the Leagues Cup final at Chase Stadium on Wednesday.
Miami will be in the final for the second time in three years. Elasco Segovia scored the third goal to win the semi-final. Marco Pasalic, the right winger for Orlando City, scored a goal in the 46th minute to give them the lead. He was their best player.
When Orlando lost a player, Miami was able to come back and win. Tadeo Allende of Miami got a penalty in the 74th minute after getting past David Brekalo and hitting the ball toward the goal.
Even though Pedro Gallese saved the header, referee Walter Lopez said that Brekalo had pulled Allende back. Brekalo got his second yellow card and was kicked out.
Messi took the penalty kick in the 77th minute and made the most of it.
But Miami kept going strong. In the 88th minute, Messi and Jordi Alba worked together down the right side and scored from close range into the bottom right corner, breaking through Orlando’s weak defense.
Messi scored again in stoppage time, this time with Segovia, to seal Miami’s stunning 3-1 triumph.
