Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance once again as Inter Miami staged a dramatic comeback against Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in the quarterfinal second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Trailing by two goals on aggregate, Miami turned the tide with a 3-1 victory, culminating in a 3-2 aggregate win to claim their spot in the semifinals.
The match, held in Fort Lauderdale, was packed with action. Messi ignited Miami’s hopes with a stunning strike from outside the box in the 35th minute. A fluke goal following confusion in LAFC’s defense brought the scoreline to 2-1, keeping Miami’s dream alive. Though Luis Suarez’s goal was disallowed due to offside, Messi secured the win with a decisive penalty kick in the 84th minute after a VAR review for handball.
Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s heroic saves in the dying minutes ensured LAFC’s late attempts to equalize were thwarted, sealing an unforgettable triumph for Messi and his team.