Inter Miami appeared to be on the brink of elimination in their CONCACAF Champions Cup match against LAFC, trailing by two goals. However, Lionel Messi had other plans. With two goals and an assist, including a crucial penalty, the Argentine star propelled Inter Miami to an impressive 3-1 victory on Wednesday night, securing a 3-2 aggregate win and advancing to the semifinals for the first time in the club's history.

While some may attribute this turnaround to luck, it was predominantly Messi's brilliance that made the difference.

In a striking parallel to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, Messi once again confronted Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot, and the result mirrored their previous encounter. Demonstrating his trademark composure, Messi observed Lloris's movements before calmly placing the ball into the opposite corner, extending the lead to 3-1 in the 84th minute. Lloris found himself once more caught off guard, reliving a moment he would rather forget.

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The tension had begun long before. With LAFC ahead 2-0 on aggregate and benefiting from the away-goals rule, Messi ignited a spark of optimism for Inter Miami in the 35th minute. Collecting the ball just outside the penalty area, he unleashed a classic left-footed shot that equalized the match and energized the crowd.

The conviction grew stronger in the 61st minute when Noah Allen scored to make it 2-1, taking advantage of an unusual defensive error. Messi had delivered a clever pass to Federico Redondo inside the box, but Lloris misjudged the situation, allowing the ball to bounce into the side-netting without any intervention.

A potential third goal was disallowed for offside after Luis Suárez headed in a delivery from Messi, yet Miami continued to press forward. Their breakthrough arrived through a VAR-reviewed handball, which led to Messi converting a composed penalty.

“We gave it our all,” stated Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano. “We were determined to reach the semifinals, and I believe that was evident. ... Often, luck plays a role, and we were fortunate tonight.”

Inter Miami is set to face either the Mexican team Pumas or the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals later this month. For now, however, it is Messi’s moment to shine—another significant occasion and yet another comeback.

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