Inter Miami staged an emotional comeback against Los Angeles FC in the second leg of the 2024/25 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, thanks to a brilliant performance from Lionel Messi.
The match didn’t start well for the home side at Chase Stadium. In just the 9th minute, LAFC took a surprise lead after a chaotic scramble in the box. Aaron Long seized the opportunity and fired home, putting the California side 1-0 up and extending their aggregate lead to 2-0 over the two legs.
In the 31st minute, it looked like Messi had pulled one back with a beautiful free kick, but the goal was disallowed by VAR due to a prior foul in the build-up. However, the Argentine superstar didn’t take long to respond. Just four minutes later, in the 35th minute, Messi unleashed a powerful shot from the left flank, beating Hugo Lloris to level the match 1-1 and cut the aggregate deficit to 2-1.
Inter Miami went all-out in attack in the second half, and their efforts paid off in the 61st minute. LAFC’s defense fell apart under pressure, and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a costly mistake by charging out and missing the ball. In the ensuing chaos, defender Ryan Hollingshead accidentally scored an own goal, giving Miami a 2-1 lead on the night and tying the aggregate score at 2-2.
In the 67th minute, it seemed Luis Suárez had put Inter Miami ahead with a precise header from Messi’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside — a controversial call, as VAR replays showed the margin was razor-thin.
The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute. After a VAR review, the referee awarded Inter Miami a penalty for a foul inside the box. From the spot, Messi made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Lloris in the 84th minute to complete his brace and seal a 3-1 victory for the hosts.
With this dramatic win, Inter Miami officially booked their place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate score. Messi once again showcased his immense influence, directly contributing to all three goals — scoring twice and providing one assist — bringing his team one step closer to regional glory.