Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are heading into the final stretch of the season with two major finals awaiting them. The first is the Eastern Conference final against New York City FC. Victory in this match would secure a ticket to the MLS Cup final, where the ultimate trophy will be contested.
The match will take place at Inter Miami’s home stadium this Sunday, starting at 5:00 am Bangladesh time. Coach Javier Mascherano has stressed the importance of focus from the first minute.
MLS’s format is unique. Teams are divided into Eastern and Western conferences. At the end of the regular season, the Supporters’ Shield is awarded to the top team. Following that, playoffs begin, consisting of first round, semi-final, and conference final matches. The winners of the two conference finals then meet in the MLS Cup final.
Inter Miami finished third in the Supporters’ Shield, securing their playoff ticket. In the first round, they lost a three-game series to Nashville. However, in the next round, Messi’s brilliance led to a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati, with one goal and three assists from the Argentine superstar.
Maintaining that momentum, Inter Miami now face New York City FC in the conference final. Mascherano emphasized, “Our opponent has also been on a winning streak and is deserving. We must attack from the very first minute.”
Three hours after Messi’s match, the Western Conference final will take place between San Diego and Vancouver. The MLS Cup final is scheduled for December 7. If Inter Miami wins their conference final, the cup final will also be played at their home stadium.
Last season, Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield but exited the playoffs in the first round. This season, winning these two matches would see Messi and his team lift the MLS Cup, completing a remarkable campaign.