Inter Miami CF clinched a spot in MLS Cup for the first time in club history on Saturday night with a commanding 5-1 victory against New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
As Herons captain Lionel Messi lifted the Eastern Conference’s trophy, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas reiterated the team’s “one more game” message, aiming for glory when his team hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps in next Saturday’s final.
“This [trophy] is for you, Miami, our fans, ‘La Familia.’ The club made an amazing effort, and it was a great result,” Mas said. “But more importantly, this is one down, one to go. One more.”
Inter Miami will host MLS Cup because it finished higher in the overall regular-season MLS table than the Whitecaps. The Herons concluded the regular season in third place in the East with 65 points, while Vancouver, which beat San Diego FC 3-1 on Saturday to win its first Western Conference title at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, recorded 63 points.
“In the final stretch of the season, which, as this tournament is structured, consists of two championships — one being the regular season and the other the playoffs — it’s great that this moment has arrived, reinforcing our conviction to continue along the same path,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.
“Because beyond today’s achievement, which will be remembered in the history of this club as conference champions, which is no small feat, the most important thing, the main prize, is this trophy.”
Tadeo Allende propelled the attack for the Herons in the 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 back line and goalkeeper Rocco RÃos Novo stopped the visiting team’s momentum.
In the second half, Mateo Silvetti, who joined Inter Miami in August, pushed Inter Miami’s lead to 3-1 thanks to an assist from 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. He scored eight goals in the playoffs, including three multigoal performances to help get Inter Miami into the final.
The Herons beat Nashville SC in the first-round series before triumphing against FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Miami previously failed to advance past the first round of the 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 in Fort Lauderdale.
