In a remarkable display of football prowess, Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance by scoring a stunning goal from a distance of 33 meters, propelling Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory against Philadelphia Union in the semifinals of Leagues Cup 2023.
Goal Scorers: Bedoya 73 – Martinez 3, Messi 20, Alba 45, Ruiz 84
Inter Miami now stands just one win away from securing their first-ever title in the club’s history, a prospect few would have envisioned just a few months ago. The presence of superstar Lionel Messi, alongside figures like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and coach Tata Martino, has transformed the team’s fortunes. Notably, the 36-year-old forward has left an indelible mark, scoring in all six previous matches, including a spectacular long-range strike from 33 meters that found the back of Philadelphia’s net.
As is customary in matches featuring Lionel Messi, the stands were packed with eager fans. The Subaru Stadium, with a capacity of 18,500 seats – among the smallest in MLS stadiums – recorded the highest occupancy rate. Philadelphia Union’s passionate supporters, evident through their continuous cheers and jeers, were in full force, especially when Lionel Messi was warming up.
However, once the match kicked off, the home crowd’s noise subsided as early as the third minute when Inter Miami opened the scoring. Defender Serhiy Kryvtsov launched a long ball that reached forward Josef Martinez, who struck a low shot into the far corner of the net. It was Martinez to whom Messi generously passed penalty-taking duties in four of the last six matches.
Venezuelan striker Martinez celebrated the goal by standing in front of the home fans, a move that contrasted with their previous jeers towards Messi. Other parts of the stadium witnessed jubilation from Inter Miami fans. Notably, there were more Philadelphia Union jerseys in the crowd than those of Inter Miami or Argentina. In earlier matches, even when playing away, Messi and his teammates garnered more support.
Regardless of the crowd’s size, Messi still managed to shine. In the 20th minute, he received a pass from Martinez in the central area, took a step forward, and executed a dipping shot from 33 meters, extending the lead to 2-0. Despite having a less than 1% chance of scoring from this distance according to Athletic’s data, Messi showcased his exceptional skill. This goal marked his sixth consecutive goal for Miami, including several remarkable long-range strikes. Miami’s captain also maintained his position at the top of the Golden Boot race with nine goals in six matches.
Miami’s transformation with and without Messi is stark. The team scored 22 goals in 22 matches prior to Messi’s arrival, but they’ve already managed 21 goals in just the past six matches. Rising from the bottom of the Eastern MLS table, Miami’s journey now takes them to the Leagues Cup final and a potential historic title win. Miami has also scored four goals in each of their last three matches, making their final opponents, be it Monterrey or Nashville, take notice.
Beyond his goal, Messi faced close marking throughout the game as Philadelphia assigned a player to shadow him. Miami only managed five shots in the match, but impressively converted four into goals. Defender Jordi Alba scored his first goal for the new team, and the remaining goal was netted by 19-year-old midfielder David Ruiz.
The Leagues Cup is an international competition between MLS clubs and top-tier Mexican teams. Miami is set to play a historic match for their first title, facing Monterrey or Nashville on August 20th. Securing their spot in the final has also guaranteed Miami a berth in the CONCACAF.
