Tadeo Allende scored a second-half brace, Lionel Messi scored and picked up three assists and visiting Inter Miami pulled away to a 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati in Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinal.
Mateo Silvetti, 19, also had a goal and two assists for No. 3 seed Miami, which continues its deepest MLS Cup Playoff run in club history by advancing to its first East final. It will host No. 5 seed New York City FC, which shut out top-seeded Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Sunday night.
Cincinnati was eliminated in a home match for a third consecutive postseason while falling a match short of reaching its second East final.
Miami’s second consecutive 4-0 playoff win — after earning a home victory over Nashville SC in the decisive game of the round one series two weeks ago — came as manager Javier Mascherano decided not to return striker Luis Suarez to the starting lineup.
Suarez, who was previously Messi’s longtime teammate at FC Barcelona, served a red-card suspension in the final Nashville match, but had 10 goals and 10 assists in the regular season.
But Messi and a more youthful Miami front four have appeared to reach another level over the last 180 minutes.
Messi has six goals and six assists this postseason — contributing to every single Miami tally — after he scored 29 goals and added 19 assists during what is likely to be a second consecutive MLS MVP-winning regular season.
On Sunday, he scored his goal in the 19th minute during what was an evenly poised opening to the match.
Jodi Alba created the opportunity when he stepped forward from his left back position to intercept a Cincinnati pass and create a transition opportunity.
Eventually, Silvetti got the ball in space on the left and delivered an outswinging cross that Messi met in stride with a firm header past goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Silvetti doubled Miami’s lead in the 57th minute on a sequence that began from a throw-in on the right. Allende did extremely well to receive the throw, then turn his body quickly to elude a defender and spot Messi in space near the penalty arc. Messi kept the ball moving right to left with a layoff into Silvetti’s path, who dispatched an excellent curling finish beyond Celentano and inside the far right post.
Allende added his brace in the 62nd and 74th minutes, both on transition opportunities. Messi took the ball off Evander on the first to create the break, and delivered the final throughball on both.
Lionel Messi stars as Miami blanks Cincinnati, reaches 1st East final
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Lionel Messi stars as Miami blanks Cincinnati, reaches 1st East final
- Suarez, who was previously Messi’s longtime teammate at FC Barcelona, served a red-card suspension in the final Nashville match, but had 10 goals and 10 assists in the regular season
PSG move top with nervy 3-2 win at bottom club Metz
- PSG are on 36 points, two ahead of Lens who host Nice on Sunday
- PSG struggled to create any early chances against Metz who have the worst defensive record
LONGEVILLE-LES-METZ, France: Paris St. Germain moved provisionally top of Ligue 1 with a 3-2 win at bottom club Metz on Saturday where the champions twice had a two-goal cushion cut and Goncalo Ramos, Quentin Ndjantou and Desire Doue were all on the scoresheet for the visitors.
PSG are on 36 points, two ahead of Lens who host Nice on Sunday while Metz remain bottom of the standings with 11 points.
PSG struggled to create any early chances against Metz who have the worst defensive record in the league this season, conceding 34 goals in their 15 previous games, but finally found a way through in the 31st minute.
Lee Kang-in played a one-two from a short corner before floating the ball toward the six-yard area where Ramos steered his header into the bottom corner.
PSG scored their second eight minutes later. Ibrahim Mbaye played a pinpoint pass across the box for Ndjantou to slide in and net his first goal for the club. The 18-year-old became PSG’s 17th different goalscorer in Ligue 1 this campaign.
Ramos wasted a gilt-edged chance to score another goal minutes earlier when his touch let him down as he tried to round the keeper and, out of nowhere, three minutes before the break Metz pulled one back.
Habib Diallo had a shot blocked in the box and when the ball came out to Jessy Deminguet he smacked a half-volley into the roof of the net to set up a more intriguing second half.
Metz keeper Jonathan Fischer denied Ndjantou, Ramos and Lee as PSG looked to kill off any hopes of a Metz comeback after halftime but the hosts almost found an equalizer before the hour mark.
Diallo volleyed narrowly wide and moments later, PSG keeper Matvey Safonov got down well to parry away a Koffi Kouao strike.
But, just when the hosts were enjoying their best period, PSG launched a counter attack from the resulting corner which sent substitute Doue through on goal and he made no mistake with a composed finish in the 63rd minute.
Mbaye’s shot rocked the crossbar as PSG began to turn the screw and Fischer made another fine save from Doue’s ferocious strike.
METZ MOMENT OF MAGIC
Metz refused to bow and nine minutes from time the home side created a beautiful goal to set up a nervy ending for the visitors.
Giorgi Tsitaishvili made a bursting run with the ball into the box from the wing and although he momentarily lost possession, Gauthier Hein played a clever backheeled pass back to Tsitaishvili who rifled his shot into the far corner.
PSG held on, but Metz will take satisfaction from their performance and if they can produce this type of display against lesser sides, they might be able to avoid a swift return to Ligue 2.
