Lionel Messi's brace propels Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals

Lionel Messi scored twice, including a late penalty, to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, overturning a 2-0 aggregate deficit to secure a 3-2 aggregate win and advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals, showcasing his enduring competitive spirit at age 37.The match began with Miami already trailing 1-0 from the first leg in California, and their situation worsened when Aaron Long scored for LAFC in the ninth minute following a corner kick sequence.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Long's goal carried additional weight due to the away goals rule in CONCACAF's club competition, meaning Miami needed three goals to progress in the tournament.Messi had a free-kick goal disallowed after taking it quickly while LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was still organizing his wall.The Argentine star opened his account in the 35th minute, completing a one-two combination with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez before placing his shot into the far corner.Miami took a 2-1 lead when Noah Allen's chipped ball into the box evaded both Federico Redondo and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before finding the net.Suarez appeared to score Miami's third goal with a header from Messi's cross, but it was ruled offside by the assistant referee.The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when a VAR review confirmed a handball by LAFC's Brazilian defender Marlon in the penalty area, allowing Messi to convert the spot kick and complete Miami's comeback."He's a guy who has already done everything in football, he's the greatest in history and he continues to set an example of how to compete," said Miami coach Javier Mascherano."Until the last day he plays on a pitch he's going to want to win and he's going to do the impossible to win. And it's not just about wanting to, you also have to be able to, and he has that ability," Mascherano added.LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo acknowledged his team's missed opportunities: "We created some high-quality chances throughout the match and then it gets hectic. You know there's antics on the sidelines with the referees and benches, that's the standard here and in this competition that's part of it."Mascherano reflected on his team's performance: "We have a lot of things to improve but this is the way. This is the way to play football. We tried to give everything, 100%, with some mistakes but...until the end fighting, giving everything."In the final minutes of stoppage time, Messi demonstrated his commitment by actively defending and challenging opponents as Miami secured their place in the semi-finals.Mascherano described Messi as the "soul" of the team, highlighting the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's continued passion and competitive drive despite his accomplished career.The dramatic victory ensures Inter Miami's progression to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals, with Messi once again proving decisive in a crucial match for his team.