Thanks in no small part to Lionel Messi, Inter Miami turned the tables on Los Angeles FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final second leg. Vancouver now awaits in the semi-finals.
After the 1-0 first-leg advantage, the game had started well for the Californians, with Aaron Long putting his team in Miami in the lead early on. Inter struck back before half-time through Messi, the Argentine world champion equalizing in the 35th minute.
After the break, it was initially Federico Redondo who shot Miami into the lead (61st minute) – not enough to advance due to the away goals rule that exists in this competition. It was once again Messi who made it 3:1 with a converted penalty kick in the entertaining game (84th minute), and thus finally made it to the semi-finals.
Mascherano raves about Messi
Javier Mascherano was full of praise for the 37-year-old afterwards. Messi has “already achieved everything in football, he is the greatest in history and he continues to be an example of how to compete,” said the Inter coach. And further: “Until the last day he is on the pitch, he wants to win and will do the impossible to win. And it’s not just about wanting to, you also have to be able to do it, and he can.”
Whitecaps advance thanks to Blackmon
The team from the Sunshine State will now face Vancouver in the last four. The Whitecaps advanced to the semi-finals at UNAM Pumas. After the 1-1 first leg, the Mexicans were on the road to victory after a late goal from Igancio Pussetto to make it 2-1 (88th minute), before Tristan Blackmon (90th + 3) spoiled the party in injury time and earned the Canadians a 2-2 draw in the semi-finals.
In the Major Soccer League, Inter Miami face Chicago Fire away from home on Sunday. Los Angeles face the San Jose Earthquakes.
