2023 Leagues Cup: Inter Miami 4-1 Philadelphia Union
Lionel Messi scored again as the South Florida side used a three-goal first half to reach the tournament final and the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup
Another quick start. Another Lionel Messi goal. A first-ever final for Inter Miami.
Messi, Josef Martinez, and Jordi Alba all scored first-half goals, and those strikes paved the way for Inter Miami to reach the final of the Leagues Cup via a 4-1 road win over the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night.
The victory also punched Inter Miami’s first-ever ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup — formerly known as the Concacaf Champions League — in 2024.
Martinez delivered the opener after just three minutes, and Messi and Alba added insurance tallies to give the South Florida side a three-goal advantage at the break.
The Union pushed hard to get back into the game after the break and eventually pulled one back via Alejandro Bedoya, but substitute David Ruiz ensured there would be no comeback with a late slotted effort.
Inter Miami, which is now unbeaten in the competition at 5-1-0, will play the winner of Tuesday’s other semifinals showdown between Nashville SC and Monterrey. La Rosanegra will host the championship game on Saturday if the Liga MX advances.
Inter Miami: Josef Martinez (Sergii Kryvtsov) 3’
Inter Miami: Lionel Messi (Josef Martinez) 20’
Inter Miami: Jordi Alba (Robert Taylor) 45+3’
Philadelphia Union: Alejandro Bedoya 73’
Inter Miami: David Ruiz (DeAndre Yedlin) 84’