Lionel Messi, Inter Miami oust LAFC with chaotic 3-goal comeback in CONCACAF Champions Cup

Yahoo

10-04-2025

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami stormed back from two goals down to top LAFC in a chaotic CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday.
In a reprise of the most recent World Cup final, Messi beat LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot to complete a triumphant comeback, and claim a spot in the semifinals of North and Central America's premier club competition.
An hour earlier, Messi had kick-started the comeback with a wonderful goal. That brought Inter Miami level in Wednesday's second leg, but they were still behind on aggregate after last week's first leg; and behind on away goals, after LAFC's Aaron Long scored in the 9th minute of Wednesday's game.
So, they needed three goals. Messi got the first. A bizarre second goal slipped past Lloris in the 61st minute.
The third seemed elusive, until LAFC inexplicably failed to clear an uncontested falling ball in its penalty box.
Replays showed that it struck an LAFC arm. After a VAR review, referee César Ramos pointed to the spot. Messi stepped up, froze Lloris, and dragged Miami to the semis, where they'll face either the Vancouver Whitecaps or Liga MX club Pumas.
This story will be updated. A full blow-by-blow recap is below.
What looked like the end for Inter Miami turned into a furious response. Down 2-0 on aggregate after Long's early goal, Miami roared back with three unanswered — capped by Messi's composed penalty after a handball inside the box.
From desperation to dominance in the space of 60 minutes. Miami advances. Adios, Los Angeles.
WHAT A GAME 🍿@InterMiamiCF comes from behind to defeat @LAFC and advance to the #ChampionsCup Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/4Ewoexs0Wr
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 10, 2025
Things are heating up between Miami and LAFC pic.twitter.com/VXTxGi6qEL
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
WHO ELSE!? 🐐MESSI FROM THE SPOT FOR @InterMiamiCF 💪 pic.twitter.com/kQq09rnWaU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Miami is given a penalty for a handball here pic.twitter.com/BA1zAIf8V3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
PENALTI A FAVOR ‼️‼️
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 10, 2025
Another look at that Miami goal ruled offsideAgree or disagree with the call? pic.twitter.com/b7X8BmRVWw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
THIS GAME 🤯Miami was this close to getting another, but is called offside pic.twitter.com/zUZ0RtHeXG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Messi found Suarez inside the box and the Uruguayan easily converted past Lloris, but an offsides penalty means Miami still needs another.
GAME ON!@InterMiamiCF finds the back of the net once again 😤 pic.twitter.com/ITxKPHT7eJ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Now things get really interesting with LAFC still leading on the away goal tiebreaker. But Miami's attack has been relentless and LAFC is breaking down.
The goal was initially credited to Redondo, but after a closer look he didn't get a piece of it.
Five minutes in, no goals yet. Inter Miami on the front foot, though
Fun half. Sloppy at times, frantic at times.
Plenty of quality, also plenty of missed chances and mistakes.
As a reminder: LAFC leads 2-1 on aggregate, and has won the away goals tiebreaker. So, Miami is essentially behind by 1.5 goals; Messi and co. need at least two in the second half.
... on himself?!?
Suarez howled at the referee after a duel in the box with Marlon. He seemed to claiming the ball had hit Marlon's hand.
It had not. In fact, Suarez had tapped it with his own hand.
Quick VAR review, nothing
Sloppy giveaways. Poor structure.
Suarez and Messi both nearly capitalized, testing Hugo Lloris. But LAFC survived.
Still 1-1 on the night
In minute 34, LAFC seemed comfortable.
Now, in Minute 38, Inter Miami is all over the visitors. Chests are puffed. Runs are incisive. Tackles are aggressive.
It was only one goal, and LAFC still has a commanding lead, but the vibes have completely flipped.
MESSSSSI 🐐@InterMiamiCF takes one back! pic.twitter.com/fJAoPTCNYG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
He takes a deflected pass, dances into the box, and finds the far top corner.
The crowd chants his name.
1-1 on the night, 2-1 LAFC on aggregate. Miami still needs two more.
36 minutes gone.
TOTAL CHAOS 😳Messi almost got away with a fast one here 😅 pic.twitter.com/I1Oh6WqohP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
A very confusion situation, in a nutshell:
- LAFC fouled Messi. The ref showed a yellow card to Ryan Hollingshead. Messi set up a free kick in a dangerous position
- As LAFC was setting up its wall, Messi caught everybody off guard, took the free kick, and scored
- The ref initially gave the goal, but LAFC protested furiously, and rightly so — because if a ref gives a yellow card for a foul, he has to give the attacking team clearance to restart play by blowing his whistle. He hadn't yet done that.
- Eventually, possibly after getting some guidance from an assistant, he disallowed the goal.
Maxi Falcón stumbled, inexplicably, and Denis Bouanga was able to waltz into the box untouched.
But, also inexplicably, he passed of a free shot from 12 yards out on his right foot, and LAFC couldn't get a clean shot off. (The deflected effort was saved by Ustari.)
Inter Miami has had plenty of possession, but LAFC has had the better chances here.
What looked like the end for Inter Miami turned into a furious response. Down 2-0 on aggregate after Long's early goal, Miami roared back with three unanswered — capped by Messi's composed penalty after a handball inside the box.
From desperation to dominance in the space of 60 minutes. Miami advances. Adios, Los Angeles.
WHAT A GAME 🍿@InterMiamiCF comes from behind to defeat @LAFC and advance to the #ChampionsCup Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/4Ewoexs0Wr
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 10, 2025
Things are heating up between Miami and LAFC pic.twitter.com/VXTxGi6qEL
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
WHO ELSE!? 🐐MESSI FROM THE SPOT FOR @InterMiamiCF 💪 pic.twitter.com/kQq09rnWaU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Miami is given a penalty for a handball here pic.twitter.com/BA1zAIf8V3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
PENALTI A FAVOR ‼️‼️
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 10, 2025
Another look at that Miami goal ruled offsideAgree or disagree with the call? pic.twitter.com/b7X8BmRVWw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
THIS GAME 🤯Miami was this close to getting another, but is called offside pic.twitter.com/zUZ0RtHeXG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Messi found Suarez inside the box and the Uruguayan easily converted past Lloris, but an offsides penalty means Miami still needs another.
GAME ON!@InterMiamiCF finds the back of the net once again 😤 pic.twitter.com/ITxKPHT7eJ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
Now things get really interesting with LAFC still leading on the away goal tiebreaker. But Miami's attack has been relentless and LAFC is breaking down.
The goal was initially credited to Redondo, but after a closer look he didn't get a piece of it.
Five minutes in, no goals yet. Inter Miami on the front foot, though
Fun half. Sloppy at times, frantic at times.
Plenty of quality, also plenty of missed chances and mistakes.
As a reminder: LAFC leads 2-1 on aggregate, and has won the away goals tiebreaker. So, Miami is essentially behind by 1.5 goals; Messi and co. need at least two in the second half.
... on himself?!?
Suarez howled at the referee after a duel in the box with Marlon. He seemed to claiming the ball had hit Marlon's hand.
It had not. In fact, Suarez had tapped it with his own hand.
Quick VAR review, nothing
Sloppy giveaways. Poor structure.
Suarez and Messi both nearly capitalized, testing Hugo Lloris. But LAFC survived.
Still 1-1 on the night
In minute 34, LAFC seemed comfortable.
Now, in Minute 38, Inter Miami is all over the visitors. Chests are puffed. Runs are incisive. Tackles are aggressive.
It was only one goal, and LAFC still has a commanding lead, but the vibes have completely flipped.
MESSSSSI 🐐@InterMiamiCF takes one back! pic.twitter.com/fJAoPTCNYG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
He takes a deflected pass, dances into the box, and finds the far top corner.
The crowd chants his name.
1-1 on the night, 2-1 LAFC on aggregate. Miami still needs two more.
36 minutes gone.
TOTAL CHAOS 😳Messi almost got away with a fast one here 😅 pic.twitter.com/I1Oh6WqohP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025
A very confusion situation, in a nutshell:
- LAFC fouled Messi. The ref showed a yellow card to Ryan Hollingshead. Messi set up a free kick in a dangerous position
- As LAFC was setting up its wall, Messi caught everybody off guard, took the free kick, and scored
- The ref initially gave the goal, but LAFC protested furiously, and rightly so — because if a ref gives a yellow card for a foul, he has to give the attacking team clearance to restart play by blowing his whistle. He hadn't yet done that.
- Eventually, possibly after getting some guidance from an assistant, he disallowed the goal.
Maxi Falcón stumbled, inexplicably, and Denis Bouanga was able to waltz into the box untouched.
But, also inexplicably, he passed of a free shot from 12 yards out on his right foot, and LAFC couldn't get a clean shot off. (The deflected effort was saved by Ustari.)
Inter Miami has had plenty of possession, but LAFC has had the better chances here.