Inter Miami 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps: Messi stars to clinch MLS Cup glory
Inter Miami claimed the MLS Cup for the first time in their history, with Lionel Messi setting up their last two goals to clinch it.
Lionel Messi registered two more assists to help Inter Miami secure a first MLS Cup triumph with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
In their final game at Chase Stadium, Miami finished on a high note after Edier Ocampo's early own goal had been cancelled out by Ali Ahmed.
With co-owner David Beckham watching on, Miami made a great start when Tadeo Allende raced in behind to reach Rodrigo De Paul's long pass, and his squared cross towards Mateo Silvetti was diverted past Yohei Takaoka by Ocampo.
However, Vancouver responded well to going behind, and Miami were indebted to Rocco Rios Novo, who made crucial saves to keep out Emmanuel Sabbi and Thomas Muller before the break.
Messi glanced a header wide of an empty net in the second half before Ahmed found the equaliser. His strike was not the cleanest, but Rios Novo could only push the shot onto the inside of the right post and in.
Sabbi should then have put Vancouver ahead moments later, only to see his shot bounce off both posts without crossing the line.
Yet Messi came up with a decisive moment when he threaded it through for compatriot De Paul, who was unmarked as he fired a finish across goal and into the bottom-right corner.
And Messi provided his second assist of the day when he picked out Allende to seal victory in the 96th minute.
Data Debrief: Signing off in style
Miami could not have asked for a better send-off for their time at Chase Stadium, but as well as bidding goodbye to their home, it was also the final matches of the illustrious careers of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
And it was their long-time team-mate Messi who helped make sure they signed off with a trophy.
Messi played his 26th career final (excluding Super Cups), and has won 18 of those. His assists took him to 26 goal involvements in those showpieces (18 goals, eight assists).
Overall, it was his 23rd assist in MLS this term, more than any other player, while he has contributed to 15 goals in his last six home games (six goals, nine assists).
Vancouver star Muller, meanwhile, managed two shots, testing Miami's goalkeeper with one of them, but he could not match Messi's impact.
