Messi’s Inter Miami advances to MLS Cup final with 5-1 win over NYCFC in East final

By TIM REYNOLDS FORT LAUDERDALE Fla AP Lionel Messi will play for another trophy Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets clearly aren t ready to begin their retirements either Tadeo Allande scored three goals Alba and Busquets a pair of longtime Messi teammates who will retire when this season ends had the assists on his first two and Inter Miami topped New York City FC - on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference title and a berth in the MLS Cup final Mateo Silvetti scored in the th minute for Inter Miami with Messi setting up that goal the th assist of his career for club and country which is generally thought to be the the greater part in soccer history Telasco Segovia scored off a heel pass from Alba in the rd minute to turn it into a runaway and Allande finishing off the hat trick in the th minute was the final play Inter Miami the No seed in the East will play host to either San Diego or Vancouver for the league title on Dec at p m Eastern San Diego and Vancouver play for the Western Conference title later Saturday night It ll be the first MLS final appearance for Inter Miami which had never made it past the opening postseason round in any of its first five seasons Messi s club went - against Vancouver this season losing both legs of a semifinal meeting in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by a - aggregate Justin Haak scored in the th minute for NYCFC which went - - against Inter Miami this season The win moves Inter Miami one step closer to another trophy after winning the Leagues Cup in and the Supporters Shield as MLS top regular-season organization last year Messi a World Cup champion for Argentina and now eight-time Ballon d Or winner joined the group midway through the season when it was at the bottom of the MLS standings and in an -match winless streak Now The club s brand is global Messi s No jersey in the club s pink kit is sold all over the world a new stadium near Miami International Airport is on the way for next season Messi is signed through he seems like a lock to win his second consecutive MLS MVP award and the group is on the brink of an MLS title Stars flock to see this group because of Messi tennis great Carlos Alcaraz was there Saturday night as were selected members of the U S women s national crew Everyone in the world knows who Lionel Messi is I think everyone thought he would come in here and do exactly what he s done commented U S women s forward Lindsay Horan whose Messi fandom goes back various years Messi got struck along the left side of his head in the ninth minute and was briefly shaken up remaining down near the center circle for a scant seconds before eventually getting to his feet He got tripped with Inter Miami on the attack about two minutes later then took a direct kick from about yards out playing it into the box but Silvetti s header was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese Related Articles Beloved former Warrior Kevon Looney welcomed back to Bay Area So multiple memories St Ignatius stuns SHC with Charlie Ball s pick-six Thomas McKeon s walk-off -yard field goal to win CCS D-II title ers elevate kicker Matt Gay linebacker Jalen Graham from practice squad Arizona beats ASU to complete turnaround season What s next for the T-Cup rivals as the peaceful offseason approaches ers keys to winning at Cleveland for first time since Inter Miami s next chance came a minute later This one was cashed in a long pass from Busquets was controlled by Allende who easily beat Freese from about yards out for a - lead Allende struck again on a header off a long pass from Alba in the rd minute making it - And after Messi set Silvetti up for the - lead what essentially was a -minute or so countdown to a celebration was underway