Inter Miami CF routs Cincinnati 4-0 with Messi in total control, advances to Eastern Conference final

Inter Miami CF absolutely dominated FC Cincinnati on November 23, demolishing them 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at TQL Stadium. Lionel Messi was the driving force behind the rout. The result sends Inter Miami to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history.

How It Went Down

Messi opened scoring early with a header in the 19th minute. Mateo Silvetti crossed it in perfectly, and the Inter Miami captain made no mistake. That set the tone for the evening.

Cincinnati couldn’t find their rhythm. The home side had possession and shots, but they couldn’t convert. Inter Miami kept pushing relentlessly under the lights in Ohio.

Then things got out of hand. Silvetti doubled the lead in the 57th minute off another Messi assist. Tadeo Allende scored in the 62nd and 74th minutes, both times finishing chances created by the Argentine superstar. The final whistle came with Inter Miami having total control.

“I think today the players showed incredible personality throughout and played a virtually perfect match.”

This Performance Was Historic

Let’s talk about what Messi just did. With three assists on Sunday night, he became tied with Ferenc Puskás for the most assists in football history at 404. That’s not just impressive. That’s legendary territory.

More importantly for this playoff run: Messi now has 12 goal contributions (6 goals, 6 assists) in this postseason. That’s an MLS playoff record for a single postseason. Period. The man is playing at a different level.

This was Inter Miami’s first Conference Final appearance since the club joined MLS in 2020. That alone tells you something. They’ve come a long way.

The Match Stats

Cincinnati had more possession and corner kicks, but possession doesn’t matter when you can’t finish.

Stat	Cincinnati	Inter Miami
Possession	49%	51%
Shots	14	16
Corners	4	2
Saves	3	5

Cincinnati’s defense couldn’t contain Inter Miami’s attacking flow. The visitors were absolutely clinical. When you put away everything like that, 4-0 should tell the whole story.

What Comes Next?

• Inter Miami faces NYCFC this Saturday for the Eastern Conference crown.
• The winner advances to the 2025 MLS Cup Final on December 6.
• San Diego FC plays Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Western Conference Final.
• The stakes are massive now. Championship glory is within reach for Miami.
• Kickoff is at 6:00 PM ET at home. Home-field advantage matters.

Can Messi Take Miami All the Way?

Everyone wants to know one thing: Is Messi the missing piece that finally brings the MLS Cup to Miami? Well, based on this performance, Cincinnati just got a pretty clear answer.

The man is absolutely on fire. 21 goal contributions in his last seven MLS appearances? That’s not sustainable—it’s supernatural. He’s doing things at an elite level that most players can’t even dream about.

This Saturday against NYCFC will test them again. New York City is no pushover. But if Miami plays anything like they did in Cincinnati, they’re headed to the final.

The real question: Can they finish the job? One game stands between Miami and the MLS Cup final for the first time. That’s huge.

Sources

• Inter Miami CF – Official match recap and team statement
• MLS Soccer – Playoff records and statistics
• ESPN – Real-time match coverage and final score