Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City: Messi's ruling double directs Final qualify

Inter Miami CF secured a 3-1 win over rivals Orlando City SC in the Leagues Cup 2025 Semifinals to advance to the tournament’s Final, while also securing a 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup berth as one of the finalists. A brace by captain Lionel Messi and another strike from midfielder Telasco Segovia spurred Inter Miami to the thrilling comeback victory at Chase Stadium.

Match Report

When the pressure is at the highest, Lionel Messi always seems to find a way. In Wednesday’s Leagues Cup semi-final Orlando City appeared to have control of the match, but in the final 15 minutes the Inter Miami No. 10 took charge and fired his team into the final.

Miami entered determined to reverse the momentum against their cross-state rivals. Head coach Javier Mascherano surprised many by pushing Jordi Alba into a more central defensive role to blunt Orlando’s attacking trio of Martín Ojeda, Iván Pasalic and Luis Muriel. For stretches, the strategy worked.

Still, Orlando found chances. Iván Angulo squandered the clearest opportunity of the first half in the 23rd minute, sending his shot over the bar when a goal looked certain. Moments later, Miami defender Maximiliano Falcón mis-hit a clearance straight to Pasalic. The Croatian made no mistake this time, drilling a powerful strike past Óscar Ustari to give Orlando a deserved lead.

With his side trailing, Mascherano turned to Tadeo Allende from the bench, and the change quickly paid off. Allende drew a foul from David Brekalo inside the box, leading to a red card and a penalty. Messi stepped up and coolly converted to level the score in the 75th minute, with Miami now enjoying a man advantage.

From there, the stage belonged to Messi. In the 88th minute, he exchanged a sharp one-two with Jordi Alba in the box and fired home his second of the night to ignite wild celebrations at Chase Stadium. Orlando, down to 10 men, had no answer.

In stoppage time, Messi turned provider, linking up with Venezuelan substitute Telasco Segovia, who added Miami’s third to seal the win.

Once again, Messi delivered when it mattered most—reminding the soccer world that even at 38, his ability to decide matches remains unmatched.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

8' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

9' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

15' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

19' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

24' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

26' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

30' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

32' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

38' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

42' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

45' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 0-1 Orlando City (Marco Pašalić)

50' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

60' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

67' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

70' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

77' Penalty Goal! Inter Miami CF 1-1 Orlando City (Lionel Messi)

78' Red Card! Sent Off

83' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

87' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Orlando City

88' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-1 Orlando City (Lionel Messi)

92' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-1 Orlando City

Line-ups

Inter Miami CF XI: Óscar Ustari, Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, De Paul, Maximiliano Falcón, Gonzalo Luján, Ian Fray, Baltasar Rodríguez, Yannick Bright

Subs: William Yarbrough, Fafà Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Rocco Ríos Novo, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, Noah Allen, Ryan Sailor, David Ruíz, Benja Cremaschi, Tomás Avilés, Santiago Morales

Orlando City XI: P. Gallese, Muriel, Robin Jansson, Martín Ojeda, Eduard Atuesta, Rodrigo Schlegel, Iván Angulo, David Brekalo, Marco Pašalić, César Araújo, Alex Freeman

Subs: Marin, Kyle Smith, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, Carlos Mercado, Javier Otero, Ramiro Enrique, Nicolás Rodríguez, Zakaria Taifi, Duncan McGuire, Tyrese Spicer, Colin Guske, Joran Gerbet