Messi double sends Inter Miami to Leagues Cup final vs Seattle

Lionel Messi scored twice late as Inter Miami overturned a first half deficit to beat rivals Orlando City 3-1 at Chase Stadium on Wednesday and reach the Leagues Cup final, where they will face the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. The victory also secured Inter Miami a place in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup as one of the tournament finalists.

Orlando took the lead just before halftime when Marco Pašalić reacted quickest to a rebound in first-half stoppage time and fired past goalkeeper Óscar Ustari. Inter Miami players protested that the ball struck Pašalić’s arm, but VAR confirmed the goal. The match shifted decisively in the second half after Orlando were reduced to 10 men when defender David Brekalo was shown a second yellow card for tugging Tadeo Allende in the penalty area, a decision that prompted protests from Orlando coach Óscar Pareja, who said the sending off “wasn’t a yellow.”

Messi converted the ensuing spot kick in the 77th minute to level the game and then produced the decisive intervention in the 88th minute, combining with Jordi Alba before finishing low into the far post. Substitute Telasco Segovia sealed the result in stoppage time with a chip over the goalkeeper...