Miami, Messi storm into 1st MLS final with 5-1 win

Inter Miami CF triumphed 5-1 against New York City FC on Saturday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to clinch a spot in the MLS Cup for the first time in club history.

Tadeo Allende propelled the attack for the Herons in the Eastern Conference final, scoring two of his three goals in the first 23 minutes.

New York initially fought back with a goal from Justin Haak just before halftime, but Inter Miami's backline and goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo stopped the visiting team's momentum.

In the second half, Mateo Silvetti, who joined Inter Miami in August 2025, pushed Inter Miami's lead to 3-1 thanks to an assist from Lionel Messi. Telasco Segovia added to Inter Miami's cushion, scoring 10 minutes after coming off the bench.

Allende, the 26-year-old Argentine on loan from Celta de Vigo, was named the player of the game. Allende scored eight goals in the MLS Playoffs, including three multigoal performances to get Inter Miami into the final.

Inter Miami will host the MLS Cup against the winner of the Western Conference final between San Diego FC and Vancouver Whitecaps because Miami concluded the regular season in third place in the East with 65 points, while San Diego and Vancouver both recorded 63 points.

The Herons beat Nashville SC in the best-of-three Round 1 series before triumphing against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Miami previously failed to advance past the first round of playoffs in 2024, 2022 and 2020.

Tennis great Carlos Alcaraz and some members of the U.S. women's national team attended Saturday's match.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.