CHESTER, PA -- Inter Miami have booked their place in the Leagues Cup final, securing their first Concacaf Champions Cup berth, and will now have a chance at the first trophy in club history following a 4-1 victory over the Philadephia Union on Tuesday at Subaru Park. Lionel Messi scored his ninth goal in only his sixth match with the club, continuing his streak of scoring in every game he has appeared in.
The first half was all Miami, with Josef Martinez opening the scoring only three minutes into the match via an excellent finish from Josef Martinez. Defender Sergii Kryvtsov played a ball over the top that Damion Lowe tried to intercept and missed making stopping Martinez an impossible task for the Union. But while that goal was a breakdown, Messi made something out of nothing as Andre Blake was helpless in the net. Jordi Alba would open his Inter Miami account in style, scoring right before half after dispossessing Nathan Harriel on the wing.
Recognizing that he got the gameplan wrong out the gate by parking the bus to start things, Jim Curtin reverted to a 4-4-2 diamond at the half with Mikael Uhre and Jack McGlynn entering. Still, while the attack was better, Drake Callender was more than formidable enough in the net. The Union would get a goal via Alejandro Bedoya, but the Herons were sure to erase all hope as David Ruiz scored on a counter to ice the game.
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Dominant from start to finish, Miami will now travel to Nashville SC -- a 2-0 winner over Monterrey -- for the Leagues Cup final on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
Until a team does it, it's beginning to feel like no team will be able to stop Messi and Miami from winning at ease, as this was a Philadelphia Union side that has been flying high in the Eastern Conference and also are less than a year removed from playing in an MLS Cup final.
"The margins are very tight in the biggest games, and we got a little bit humbled," Curtin said after the match.
When Miami are able to turn five shots into four goals, that shows the ruthlessness that Messi brings to the squad. The Herons are a team full of players with experience, and they won't have fear in the final, no matter who they face. It's a sharp contrast with a Union side that has fallen flat in big games during its history. They've lost three U.S. Open Cup finals, an MLS Cup, and been knocked out of the Concacaf Champions League, seeming overmatched against the same Los Angeles FC side that took them out of the MLS Cup. Now this latest chapter has seen the Union fall to Miami.
It feels simple to say that if a team needs to compete with Miami, they should get their own Messi, but now the question is turning to how other MLS sides can keep up with Inter Miami. The Herons have faced Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, and now Philadelphia sweeping each aside, scoring four goals in three consecutive games.
"One hundred percent, I think the league rules are going to change," Curtin said when asked how things would change regarding roster structure moving forward.
That's likely the game as David Ruiz finds the back of the net on a counter after being played in by DeAndre Yedlin. The second half has been better for the Union but when you allow three goals in the first half, it's quite a hole to dig out of.
It's not clear at the moment if it was a cramp or an actual injury but Joaquin Torres is getting ready in case he's needed on short notice.
That's a captain's moment when Alejandro Bedoya opens the scoring following a corner kick. Right off the bench and into the back of the net as life came back into Subaru Park following the goal.
The Union have had their chances but it's hard to convert when Drake Callender can do things like this.
Miami were through clear on goal when Campana's shot was saved by Andre Blake into the path of Messi. But Messi fired the shot wide right when a fourth goal was there for the taking.
Glesnes has a chance from an Uhre shot and it just won't go on target as the Union look to make more subs with Alejandro Bedoya and Quinn Sullivan getting ready. Chris Donovan is one of the players set to exit.
With the Unon improving in midfield, Martino will counter with Robert Taylor coming out for Diego Gomez and Leonardo Campana entering at striker for Josef Martinez. this gives more physicality to close out the match as Callender has had to make a few big saves to keep Miami's 3-0 advantage.
After Uhre lays off a ball so that he isn't flagged off, Donovan rounds Callender but fires his shot wide of an empty net. The pressure of the occasion is getting to these Union players who have been so close to success in knockout tournaments but yet to reach a trophy in one.
After the halftime changes, the Union are giving Miami more of a run in midfield execution still hasn't fully been there but the Union have better ideas on the ball if passes can be strung together.
Mikael Uhre and Jack McGlynn are entering to start the half with Damion Lowe and Leon Flach entering the match. These are changes that show that the Union will return to their standard 4-4-2 diamond formation and push for goals out of the gate.
Jordi Alba scores his first Inter Miami goal after a turnover by Nathan Harriel opens the side of the pitch. It's a brutal goal to concede before the half as the Union will have an absolute mountain to climb in the second period.
When a team has Lionel Messi, they're able to operate with ruthless efficiency and that's just what Miami has done during the match. The only two shots on target for the Herons have hit the back of the net while the Union have taken seven shots only testing Drake Callender with two. Still unable to find Daniel Gazdag in space, it could be a long night for the Union.
The Philadelphia Union have now been able to apply pressure from dead ball situation with three consecutive corner kicks but don't have a goal to show for it. From the third, Jordi Alba was on the ground for a little after taking a knock but will continue. The Union are trying to get a goal before halftime but adjustments are needed.
Without needing to worry about the Union's attack Dixon Arroyo has been excellent being aggressive in midfield to throw off tempo. The Union can't get through their passing progression and he's a large reason why 28 minutes into the match.
There's Messi yet again scoring from outside the box after catching Andre Balake off guard. Josef Martinez was banged up on the play but no one scores that goal but Messi.
Miami is being let off a bit as each Philly interception if followed by an errant pass. it's clear that Miami ants to free their attacking trio but outside of the goal, the Union's back three has been well placed during the match. If the Union can execute their passes, there is space to exploit.
Miami are hunting for a goal but Glesnes stops Robert Taylor before Daniel Gazdag fires a shot on target. It's clear that this will be an open game from start to finish.
There's yet another early goal for Miami as Josef Martinez beats Jack Elliott before a first time finish less than four minutes into the game. It was an excellent finish as yet again, Miami starts quickly.
Miami starts with the ball. The Herons have led within the first 15 minutes in every match that Messi has started but they have yet to face a defense as strong as what they'll see from the Union tonight in Chester.
It'll be a fast passed match but both teams want this spot in the final of Leagues Cup.
The team is healthy and they keep their composure. In league play, the only team that can beat the union are themselves or Los Angeles FC. An experienced team, the Union have players with international experience and defenders who can keep things in check. Damion Lowe, Jack Elliott and Jakob Glesnes are a stellar unit and can keep up with teams both using their pace on the ground or their prowess in the air. If they don't make a chance, then they have one of the best keepers in the league in Andre Blake who is a walking highlight reel.
But at times that defense can have hiccups allowing the opposition clear chances on goal. If Miami are gifted chances, they'll take them. If the injuries don't turn in the Union's favor, the attacking corps aren't promising either. Gazdag is expected to be available but Carranza has a grade one hamstring strain and could be a gametime decision. If Carranza can't go Mikael Uhre's performances won't inspire confidence and Chris Donovan hasn't had many appearances. His stoppage-time winner against Queretaro could be a time to help push forward for the Drexel University grad but he's no Carranza which will give Miami's defense confidence.
In what will be a wild match, Miami will move onto the final due to heroics by Campana while the Union will have to settle for a place in the third-place match. Pick: Union 3, Inter Miami 3 (Miami advances 5-4 on penalties)
Win 4-0, roll out an unchanged formation. Those are the rules
Starters: Alba, Miller, Kryvysov, Yedlin, Creamschi, Arroyo, Busquets, Taylor, Martinez, Messi
The hero of their last match, Chris Donovan gets the start as Uhre is benched with Curtin going with a single striker formation with Daniel Gazdag returning.
Starters: Blake, Wagner, Lowe, Elliott, Glesnes, Harriel, Flach, Martinez, Gazdag, Bueno, Donovan
The Union can't limit Messi's touches. No team in the world can stop Messi from being Messi and it wouldn't be wise for the Union to try and do the impossible. But there are 10 non-Messi players who the Union can try to contain. A major reason why Miami have been so successful is that Messi's presence has opened space for Robert Taylor and if that happens, anyone on the team can hit a ball over the top that he can find for a clinical finish. Drake Callender is able to do just enough in net to make up for Miami's defensive issues but if he's under too much pressure, there's only so much that the keeper can do.
If Tata Martino starts Leonardo Campana, that's where Miami really could have their way in the match. More involved in games than Josef Martinez, Campana could make it so that the only way that the Union can defeat the Herons is by turning this game into a shootout in which the team with the most quality wins, and despite how talented the Union are, that team is Miami.
Subaru park has been a fortress for the Union this season but there's always a concern that when Miami comes to a team's stadium, Messi can take center stage of the affair. Jim Curtin himself called it the hottest ticket in town outside of Taylor Swift and it's hard to argue with him. It's early but fans are trickling into the stadium for what will be quite a match.
We've got quite an affair on our hands tonight in Chester. We're on-site for Inter Miami vs. the Philadelphia Union with a big prize on the line of a spot in the Leagues Cup final. No team has been able to stop Messi from scoring before so if they can, the Union will etch themselves in history. but Miami won't go down easily with a chance to make their first cup final in club history. The health of Julian Carranza will be a worry for the Union but all in all, this match will be quite the clash.
