Messi guides Inter Miami to maiden Eastern Conference title, seals spot in MLS Cup final

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami created history on Saturday by clinching their first-ever Eastern Conference title with a commanding 5–1 win over New York City FC, securing a place in the MLS Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.

A sensational hat-trick from Tadeo Allende, along with goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia, powered Miami to the milestone victory at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami will now host the MLS Cup at Chase Stadium on December 6 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Though Messi did not find the net, the 38-year-old made a decisive impact. His elegant, defence-splitting assist set up Silvetti for Miami’s third goal — a strike that effectively put the contest out of New York’s reach as they pushed hard for an equaliser.

"Leo has accustomed us to the extraordinary," Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of his former Barcelona and Argentina team-mate. "He's someone extraordinary, someone we'll never see again. Today, perhaps we're surprised that he didn't score, but he gave us peace of mind with the third goal, an assist that only he can see. He practically sealed the game," he added. 

Inter Miami will now host the MLS Cup at Chase Stadium on December 6 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Vancouver, spearheaded by former Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, advanced to the final with a superb 3-1 victory over San Diego in California on Saturday to claim the Western Conference crown.

Messi and his team-mates will head into the final bristling with confidence after another ruthless, high-scoring demolition job that followed on from their 4-0 drubbing of FC Cincinnati in the previous round. Allende- who scored twice in the victory over Cincinnati- was once again the focal point of the Miami attack.

The 26-year-old Argentine forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute after cleverly springing the New York offside trap and then headed in a superb second to make it 2-0.

New York rallied back with a headed Justin Haak goal in the 37th minute, and came within a whisker of an equaliser when Julian Fernandez forced a fine one-handed save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo in the 66th minute. That near miss was to prove crucial.

Miami immediately swept upfield, and a flowing move saw Rodrigo De Paul and Jordi Alba combine before Messi slipped a pass to Silvetti, who rifled home to make it 3-1. Segovia then eliminated any doubt with Miami's fourth in the 83rd minute before Allende completed his hat-trick a minute from time to spark wild celebrations.

The victory leaves Miami just one win away from completing a remarkable transformation after a season that appeared to be unravelling in disarray earlier in the campaign, following a string of defeats. "We strengthened as a group and reached the end of the season with a brotherhood within the team, where everyone pulls together, and it doesn't matter who starts," Mascherano said. "We are a group, and the power of a group is unbreakable."

Meanwhile, Vancouver, who thumped Miami 5-1 on aggregate when they met in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals in April, signalled that they will be ready to take on the star-studded Florida outfit with a masterful display to beat San Diego.