Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami reaches first MLS Cup Final with Allende hat-trick in crushing 5-1 win over NYCFC

That wraps up our live coverage of the 2025 MLS Eastern Conference final between Inter Miami and New York City FC. The Herons have crushed the Boys in Blue 5-1 and earned a ticket to the MLS Cup Final. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the qualifiers!

Inter Miami crushed New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference final with a 5-1 hat-trick result with Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia scoring once, and Tadeo Allende scoring thrice.

With this, the Herons now will wait for either Vancouver Whitecaps or San Diego FC in the MLS Cup final next Saturday!

Yannick Bright plays a through pass that breaks the defense, and Tadeo Allende seals his hat-trick after chipping the ball over Matthew Freese!

After yet another foul over Nico Fernandez, Yannick Bright gets booked!

Messi played the ball to Segovia, who after picking up the ball in the middle of the pitch, played a through pass to Jordi Alba, who back-heeled it for the midfielder to score the fourth for Miami!

Mateo Silvetti comes out in a great ovation, and Luis Suarez comes into the pitch!

With Inter Miami still pushing high, Silvetti gets brought down by Tayvon Gray.

Following a strong tackle to Yannick Bright, who laid on the floor in pain, Justin Haak was booked.

After being booked, Javier Mascherano decides to take Rodriguez out, and bring Telasco Segovia into the field.

Following a foul over Nicolas Fernandez Mercau, Baltasar Rodriguez is added to the list of Inter Miami players booked.

With his assist to Silvetti, Lionel Messi breaks Puskas’ record and now sits with 405 assists, the most of any player in soccer history!

Following Rios Novo’s save, Miami started a lethal counterattack, with Messi playing the ball to Mateo Silvetti to score the third goal for the home side!

Starting a counterattack in the middle of the park, O’Toole brings Lionel Messi down, earning the third yellow card of the team.

Hannes Wolf puts a great cross for Fernandez to unleash a strike that gets saved by Rios Novo!

Pushing for the equalizer, manager Jansen makes another offensive substitution: Julian Fernandez in, Agustin Ojeda out.

Javier Mascherano stars moving the pieces on the field, taking the two booked players out: Marcelo Weigandt and Noah Allen for Ian Fray and Yannick Bright.

NYC had the equalizer, but with Haak colliding with Rios Novo, the play was disallowed.

Once again, Alba delivered a cross from the left side, and Allende’s header went slightly wide!

Following a mistake in the build-up between Rios Novo and Falcon, NYC had the equalizer, but missed a clear chance.

Pascal Jansen makes the first offensive modification for the Boys in Blue: Hannes Wolf in, Jonathan Shore out.

Jon Freemon blows the whistle, and the second half between Inter Miami and New York City FC is underway!

With two goals from Tadeo Allende, and one from Justin Haak, Inter Miami lead 2-1 against New York City FC in the MLS Eastern Conference final.

Nearing the end of the first half, the Herons are placed up high on the pitch, looking for the third goal.

Six minutes have been added to the first half!

Maxi Moralez delivers a pinpoint cross into the box that finds Justin Haak, who unleashed an unstoppable header to shorten the distance in the scoreline!

After a foul over Maxi Moralez on the middle of the pitch, Noah Allen is booked by the referee.

Maxi Falcon gets taken down by Nico Fernandez, who earns yet another yellow card for the visiting side.

Trying to head a cross from the left side, Haak’s strike doesn’t even goes on goal.

Nico Fernandez tries a shot with a narrow angle, and Rocco Rios Novo captures the ball easily.

The match resumed, and from the middle of the pitch, Jordi Alba delivered a perfect cross to Allende, who buried a brilliant header to put Miami two goals up.

In a heated game, Marcelo Weigandt gets booked in the middle of a scrum.

Trying to get rid of Maxi Falcon’s mark, Maxi Moralez pushes the defender down and earns the first yellow card of the game.

After Allende’s goal, Inter Miami keeps pushing, but Maxi Moralez gets tackled down by  Marcelo Weigandt.

After a great build-up play, Nico Fernandez tackles Lionel Messi down.

After a great long ball from Sergio Busquets, Tadeo Allende wins the possession over Raul Gustavo and unleashes a thunderous strike to put the Herons up in the scoreline!

Lionel Messi delivers a great cross that finds Mateo Silvetti that heads the ball straight to Matthew Freese.

New York City, despite not creating chances yet, have started building up confidence by holding the possession of the ball.

With still no chances in the game, Inter Miami start dominating the possession of the ball.

Referee Jon Freemon blows his whistle and the game for a spot in the 2025 MLS Cup final between Inter Miami and New York City FC has kicked off!

New York City FC hold a significant advantage in their all-time meetings with Inter Miami, recording eight wins and four draws while the Herons have managed just two victories in 14 matchups.

However, since Lionel Messi arrived in MLS in 2023, Inter Miami have remained unbeaten against New York City. The teams have met five times during that span, with four consecutive draws and a dominant 4-0 Miami win in their most recent encounter.

Lionel Messi made history in the previous match against FC Cincinnati by reaching the milestone of 1,300 career goal contributions, and now, against New York City FC, the Argentine legend has a chance to make history once again.

If Messi provides an assist in this game, he would surpass Ferenc Puskás for the most assists in soccer history with 404, adding yet another iconic soccer record to his remarkable résumé.

For the second straight match, Luis Suárez has been left out of Inter Miami’s starting XI. He’ll once again begin the game against New York City FC on the bench. Check out our latest article for full details on the reasons behind Javier Mascherano’s decision.

With Lionel Messi leading the attacking line, head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed the team that’ll be starting against NYCFC in the East Conference final: Rocco Ríos Novo; Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba; Rodrigo De Paul, Sergio Busquets, Baltasar Rodríguez; Lionel Messi, Tadeo Allende, Mateo Silvetti.

Dutch boss Pascal Jensen has confirmed the eleven players that will start to face Inter Miami for a spot in the 2025 MLS Cup final: Matthew Freese; Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins, Justin Haak, Raul Gustavo, Kevin O’Toole; Agustin Ojeda, Jonathan Shore, Aiden O’Neill, Maximiliano Moralez; Nicolas Fernandez Mercau.

Jon Freemon has been appointed to officiate Saturday evening’s match between Inter Miami and New York City FC.

Throughout the 2025 MLS season, the American referee has overseen three Inter Miami games (0–0 vs. Chicago Fire, 4–2 vs. CF Montréal, and 5–2 vs. Nashville) and four matches involving NYCFC (2–2 vs. Nashville, 4–3 vs. Dallas, 0–1 vs. Philadelphia Union, and 1–0 vs. Charlotte).

Match officiating team:

Referee: Jon Freemon
1st Assistant Referee: Micheal Barwegen
2nd Assistant Referee: Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Michael Radchuk
AVAR1: Jonathan Johnson

After both Inter Miami and New York City FC advanced with road wins in the semifinals, the MLS Eastern Conference Final will take place at Chase Stadium. Following a third-place finish in the regular season, the Herons will have the chance to finish the job on their home field.

Interestingly, this could be the final MLS match Inter Miami play at Chase Stadium. Miami Freedom Park is set to open ahead of the 2026 season, and if the Herons fall short of reaching the MLS Cup Final, they would bid farewell to their current home on a bittersweet note.

Welcome to our live blog for the match between Inter Miami and New York City FC for the 2025 MLS Eastern Conference final. Stay with us for minute-by-minute coverage of the match!