Messi stars as Inter Miami thrashes Nashville 4-0

Lionel Messi was unstoppable as Inter Miami cruised past Nashville SC 4-0 on Saturday, securing a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs. Messi scored twice and assisted two more goals in the decisive Game 3 of the first-round series, which Inter Miami won 2-1.

Tadeo Allende added a brace in the second half, both set up by Messi, helping the third-seeded Herons dominate Nashville, outscoring them 8-3 across the series. Messi was involved in all eight goals, scoring five and assisting three.

Inter Miami will face FC Cincinnati in a single-elimination semifinal on Nov. 22 or 23. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with Cincinnati winning 3-0 at home and drawing 0-0 in Fort Lauderdale.

“This is the first time Inter Miami has advanced this far in the playoffs,” said coach Javier Mascherano, praising a near-perfect team performance. Messi’s brilliance has propelled the club to uncharted territory in South Florida’s MLS history.

Messi, MLS’ leading scorer and Golden Boot winner, recently signed a three-year contract extension through 2028 and is the frontrunner for a second consecutive MVP award.

The Eastern Conference final will feature the Inter Miami-Cincinnati winner against either Philadelphia Union or NYCFC, with the MLS Cup final set for Dec. 6.

Source: AP