CINCINNATI (AP) — Lionel Messi had a goal and three assists and Tadeo Allende had two points as Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati 4-0 on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Miami will play the winner of Sunday’s other conference semifinal, the Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC.
Messi set an MLS playoff record with 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists).
Cincinnati won the Supporters’ Shield last season and had the second-best overall record in MLS behind Philadelphia. Cincinnati lost to the Columbus Crew in last year’s conference finals.
Messi didn’t score in three games against Cincinnati, but that streak ended Sunday in the 19th minute when he headed in Matteo Silvetti’s short cross to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Messi, a World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner with Argentina, scored his 11th goal in his last seven games.
Nine minutes after scoring, Messi was left alone with the keeper, but his shot at the far post went wide.
Cincinnati’s best scoring chance came in the first half, when Ender Echenik sent a header across the box to Evander, whose shot went over the bar.
Miami had seven shots on goal, while Cincinnati had four.
Ten minutes into the second half, Silvetti beat Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano with a shot from the left side of the box, giving Miami a two-goal lead.
In the 62nd minute, Messi slipped through the defense and passed a pass to Allende, who made it 3-0. Allende scored again in the 74th minute.
Cincinnati defeated Miami 3-0 at home on July 16 and played to a scoreless draw with Fort Lauderdale on July 26. Messi was in the squad for the first match, but not for the second.
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