Inter Miami’s sensational Leagues Cup run continued Tuesday with Tata Martino’s squad booking their place in the tournament final.
Josef Martinez, Lionel Messi, and Jordi Alba all scored in the first half at Subaru Park before David Ruiz added an insurance goal for a 4-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Union. It marked the Herons’ fifth regulation victory in the tournament and their sixth overall.
It was a fast start for Inter Miami, who needed only three minutes to break the deadlock in Chester, Pennsylvania. Serhiy Kryvtsov’s long-ball pass allowed Martinez to get behind the Union backline before unleashing a powerful effort into the bottom-left corner.
It was Martinez’s third goal of the Leagues Cup, which put the Union in an early hole.
Messi doubled the Herons’ lead in the 20th minute by beating Andre Blake from an audacious effort outside of the box. Kryvtsov and Martinez connected on a pass before Martinez’s flicked pass allowed Messi to race upfield.
The Argentine legend drilled a left-footed shot from 30+ yards out that Blake was unable to keep from finding the bottom-right corner for a 2-0 advantage. It was Messi’s ninth goal since joining the Herons from Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite some chances for the Union later in the half, Inter Miami extended its lead to 3-0 before halftime through Jordi Alba’s first goal. Robert Taylor held off several Union players before playing Alba down the left wing.
The Spaniard’s confident strike snuck by Blake and continued a busy first half for the visitors.
Alejandro Bedoya came off the bench and pulled one goal back for the Union in the 75th minute, but Inter Miami would have the final say.
DeAndre Yedlin’s through-ball pass sprung David Ruiz upfield before the 19-year-old netted his second goal of the season in all competitions.
The Herons would comfortably book their place into Sunday’s final, where they will meet either Nashville SC (away) or Monterrey (home).