Lionel Messi delivered yet another iconic performance, leading Inter Miami to a thrilling 3-2 aggregate win over LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. After losing the first leg 0-1, Miami bounced back with brilliance, sparking memories of Messi's World Cup heroics.

Messi magic sends Inter Miami to CONCACAF Champions Cup semis

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought back from 2-0 down on aggregate to defeat Los Angeles FC 3-1 and clinch a place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday.
The Argentine World Cup-winner yet again proved decisive in what was a frantic, chaotic and entertaining encounter, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory from the penalty spot with six minutes of normal time remaining.
While there has never been any doubt that the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner still has the technical ability to win games at the age of 37, this was a night when Messi showed he retains the passion and aggression needed for a battle.
In the final minutes of stoppage time, Messi was chasing down opponents and putting in challenges as his team just about hung on for the win.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
MESSSSSI 🐐<a href="https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@InterMiamiCF</a> takes one back! <a href="https://t.co/fJAoPTCNYG">pic.twitter.com/fJAoPTCNYG</a>
&mdash; FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1910131275874345152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a display which left his coach and former Argentina and Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano describing the forward as the "soul" of the team.
"He's a guy who has already done everything in football, he's the greatest in history and he continues to set an example of how to compete," said Mascherano.
"Until the last day he plays on a pitch he's going to want to win and he's going to do the impossible to win. And it's not just about wanting to, you also have to be able to, and he has that ability," he said.
Trailing 1-0 from the first-leg in California, Miami quickly found themselves in big trouble when Aaron Long put LAFC ahead in the ninth minute.
After Miami keeper Oscar Ustari punched a corner out -- Mark Delgado knocked the ball into the box and in the scramble Nathan Ordaz laid off to Long and the defender fired home.
With Long's goal carrying extra weight as the away goals rule remains in place in CONCACAF's club competition, Miami knew they had to score three times to stay alive in the tournament.
<h2>LAFC rue missed chances</h2>
Messi thought he had got one back when he took a free-kick quickly and put it in the corner while LAFC's former France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was still setting up the wall.
After some confusion, the goal was ruled out but Messi did not wait long to open his account, playing a smart one-two with his former Barca team-mate Luis Suarez and then sweeping a shot into the far corner in the 35th minute.
But Inter still needed two more goals in the second half against an LAFC team that continued to threaten on the break, particularly through winger Denis Bouanga.
Miami took a 2-1 lead on the night when Noah Allen chipped a ball into the box and neither Miami midfielder Federico Redondo or Los Angeles keeper Hugo Lloris made contact with the ball as it travelled beyond them into the goal.
Another was needed to secure passage to the semi-finals and the home crowd thought they had it when Suarez headed in a cross from Messi but the assistant referee ruled the Uruguayan forward was offside.
The lifeline came when Miami appealed for a handball by Marlon in a crowded tussle in the box and a VAR review found that the Brazilian defender had handled.
Messi tucked the 84th-minute spot kick into the corner to complete the comeback for Miami and earn them a place in the last four.
Steve Cherundolo, the former USA international now coach of LAFC said his team had paid the price for not putting the game to bed with a second goal after taking the lead.
"We created some high-quality chances throughout the match and then it gets hectic. You know there's antics on the sidelines with the referees and benches, that's the standard here and in this competition that's part of it," he said.
Mascherano accepted his team were far from perfect but was delighted with the fight they showed.
"We have a lot of things to improve but this is the way. This is the way to play football. We tried to give everything, 100%, with some mistakes but...until the end fighting, giving everything," he said.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

It was a display which left his coach and former Argentina and Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano describing the forward as the "soul" of the team. Football Sports

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought back from 2-0 down on aggregate to defeat Los Angeles FC 3-1 and clinch a place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday. The Argentine World Cup-winner yet again proved decisive in what was a frantic, chaotic and entertaining encounter, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory from the penalty spot with six minutes of normal time remaining. While there has never been any doubt that the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner still has the technical ability to win games at the age of 37, this was a night when Messi showed he retains the passion and aggression needed for a battle. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Messi was chasing down opponents and putting in challenges as his team just about hung on for the win. MESSSSSI 🐐@InterMiamiCF takes one back! pic.twitter.com/fJAoPTCNYG — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2025 It was a display which left his coach and former Argentina and Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano describing the forward as the "soul" of the team. "He's a guy who has already done everything in football, he's the greatest in history and he continues to set an example of how to compete," said Mascherano. "Until the last day he plays on a pitch he's going to want to win and he's going to do the impossible to win. And it's not just about wanting to, you also have to be able to, and he has that ability," he said. Trailing 1-0 from the first-leg in California, Miami quickly found themselves in big trouble when Aaron Long put LAFC ahead in the ninth minute. After Miami keeper Oscar Ustari punched a corner out -- Mark Delgado knocked the ball into the box and in the scramble Nathan Ordaz laid off to Long and the defender fired home. With Long's goal carrying extra weight as the away goals rule remains in place in CONCACAF's club competition, Miami knew they had to score three times to stay alive in the tournament. LAFC rue missed chances Messi thought he had got one back when he took a free-kick quickly and put it in the corner while LAFC's former France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was still setting up the wall. After some confusion, the goal was ruled out but Messi did not wait long to open his account, playing a smart one-two with his former Barca team-mate Luis Suarez and then sweeping a shot into the far corner in the 35th minute. But Inter still needed two more goals in the second half against an LAFC team that continued to threaten on the break, particularly through winger Denis Bouanga. Miami took a 2-1 lead on the night when Noah Allen chipped a ball into the box and neither Miami midfielder Federico Redondo or Los Angeles keeper Hugo Lloris made contact with the ball as it travelled beyond them into the goal. Another was needed to secure passage to the semi-finals and the home crowd thought they had it when Suarez headed in a cross from Messi but the assistant referee ruled the Uruguayan forward was offside. The lifeline came when Miami appealed for a handball by Marlon in a crowded tussle in the box and a VAR review found that the Brazilian defender had handled. Messi tucked the 84th-minute spot kick into the corner to complete the comeback for Miami and earn them a place in the last four. Steve Cherundolo, the former USA international now coach of LAFC said his team had paid the price for not putting the game to bed with a second goal after taking the lead. "We created some high-quality chances throughout the match and then it gets hectic. You know there's antics on the sidelines with the referees and benches, that's the standard here and in this competition that's part of it," he said. Mascherano accepted his team were far from perfect but was delighted with the fight they showed. "We have a lot of things to improve but this is the way. This is the way to play football. We tried to give everything, 100%, with some mistakes but...until the end fighting, giving everything," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Lionel Messi conjures surreal magic as Inter Miami snatch come-from-behind victory over LAFC - WATCH

Timothy Tillman and Denis Bouanga each scored first-half goals to propel LAFC to a 2-1 home victory over the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday (April 6) night in Los Angeles.

LAFC (3-3-1, 10 points), which entered the match struggling through its worst start after six matches in franchise history, dealt their city rivals their first defeat of the season. On the flipside, the Galaxy (3-1-3, 12 points) had its first six-match unbeaten streak to open a season since 2010 snapped.

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LAFC trails the all-time series in the "El Trafico" classic but narrowed the Galaxy's lead to 9-8 with five draws.

After the teams traded goals in the first 28 minutes, Bouanga gave LAFC the edge for good when he converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute. Moments earlier, Bouanga drew a foul inside the 18-yard box after he was tripped in the corner by Miki Yimane. The play was reviewed but upheld.

LAFC's defence held firm in the second half, although Bouanga missed a chance to make it a bit more comfortable down the stretch when he missed a shot at an empty net high over the goal. On the play, Cristian Olivera drew Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy out and crossed it perfectly to Bouanga. But Bouanga sailed his shot into the crowd.

LAFC found the mark in the fourth minute of the match when Tillman tapped home his third goal of the season on a play initiated by a corner kick by Mateusz Bogusz. The ball tipped off Ilie Sanchez and found its way to Tillman, who tapped it into the back of the net.

The Galaxy evened things in the 28th minute when Julian Aude put pressure on goal and found the back of the net after four consecutive attempts. Aude's first shot hit the far post, then his second shot off a rebound was blocked by an LAFC defender. Following up the play, Gabriel Pec fired a shot that was also blocked. But Aude fired in the rebound on the fourth attempt.

Timothy Tillman and Denis Bouanga each scored first-half goals to propel LAFC to a 2-1 home victory over the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday (April 6) night in Los Angeles.

Timothy Tillman and Denis Bouanga each scored first-half goals to propel LAFC to a 2-1 home victory over the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday (April 6) night in Los Angeles. LAFC (3-3-1, 10 points), which entered the match struggling through its worst start after six matches in franchise history, dealt their city rivals their first defeat of the season. On the flipside, the Galaxy (3-1-3, 12 points) had its first six-match unbeaten streak to open a season since 2010 snapped. Also Read: Premier League: Spurs vs Nottingham Forest to go ahead after man dies of stab wounds near stadium LAFC trails the all-time series in the "El Trafico" classic but narrowed the Galaxy's lead to 9-8 with five draws. After the teams traded goals in the first 28 minutes, Bouanga gave LAFC the edge for good when he converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute. Moments earlier, Bouanga drew a foul inside the 18-yard box after he was tripped in the corner by Miki Yimane. The play was reviewed but upheld. LAFC's defence held firm in the second half, although Bouanga missed a chance to make it a bit more comfortable down the stretch when he missed a shot at an empty net high over the goal. On the play, Cristian Olivera drew Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy out and crossed it perfectly to Bouanga. But Bouanga sailed his shot into the crowd. LAFC found the mark in the fourth minute of the match when Tillman tapped home his third goal of the season on a play initiated by a corner kick by Mateusz Bogusz. The ball tipped off Ilie Sanchez and found its way to Tillman, who tapped it into the back of the net. The Galaxy evened things in the 28th minute when Julian Aude put pressure on goal and found the back of the net after four consecutive attempts. Aude's first shot hit the far post, then his second shot off a rebound was blocked by an LAFC defender. Following up the play, Gabriel Pec fired a shot that was also blocked. But Aude fired in the rebound on the fourth attempt.

Major League Soccer: LAFC beat arch-rivals LA galaxy in 'El Trafico'

The Columbus Crew won their third Major League Soccer title after beating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.

A penalty from Cucho Hernandez and goal from Yaw Yeboah gave the Crew a 2-0 lead at the interval before Denis Bouanga pulled a goal back for LAFC in the 74th minute.

In what may have been the final game before retirement for former Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini and possibly a last appearance for LAFC for Mexican star Carlos Vela, last year's champions were convincingly beaten.

Columbus, coached by little-known Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, dominated the game for long stretches while Steve Cherundolo's LAFC were unable to unleash their trademark counter-attacks.

Nancy, who won his first major title as a coach in his first season with Columbus, said his team had improved throughout the season.

"They have grown a lot as players, and as people. When we started, I told them 'Guys, impossible is an opinion'-- just enjoy it and we're gonna grow. And this is what happened. This is unbelievable," he said.

"We played our way. I'm so proud".

After a frantic start, in front of a loud, capacity 20,802 home crowd, Columbus quickly settled into their possession game thanks to the calming influence of veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who has now won the title with three different clubs.

French defender Steven Moreira had the first real opening, in the 16th minute, but his disappointing header from a promising position in the box was off target.

The Crew's roaming Colombian striker Hernandez sent a reminder of his goal threat with a shot from 20 yards out which flashed wide of the post.

Uruguayan attacking midfielder Diego Rossi was increasingly influential as he began to find spaces behind Hernandez and he went close in the 27th minute with a shot into the side-netting.

&nbsp;

<h2>- Fortunate penalty -</h2>

&nbsp;

The pressure on the Los Angeles defence was building but when the Crew broke through it was via a fortunate penalty award.

Yeboah crossed from the left, Rossi flicked the ball up in the air and it struck the shoulder of Diego Palacios and then his arm.

Referee Armando Villarreal had no hesitation pointing to the spot and Hernandez buried the penalty into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 in the 33rd minute.

Within four minutes the Crew doubled their lead with a goal of perfect simplicity.

Danish defender Malte Amundsen played a pinpoint defence-splitting pass to Yeboah who sped around the back of Ryan Hollingshead before poking home with the outside of his left-foot.

The Crew fans, many of whom had been chanting in the stadium over two hours before kick off, were ecstatic and LAFC, who had created next to nothing for the league's top scorer Bouanga, looked shell-shocked.

There was some encouragement though for the constantly singing black-clad visiting Los Angeles supporters on the stroke of half-time when a low cross from Cristian Olivera was almost sliced into his own goal by Crew defender Rudy Carmacho.

Columbus continued to dominate after the break though with the livewire Yeboah, skipping past two defenders as he weaved into the box, chipping over the advancing Los Angeles keeper Max Crepeau only for Palacios to head off the line.

There were signs that Columbus were starting to tire a little heading into the final 20 minutes with mistakes creeping into their game and LAFC pushed forward with more urgency.

A burst of pace from Bouanga got him behind the defence but his low ball across the face of the goal went untouched.

Moments later the French-born Gabon international got his team back into the game -- a right foot shot inside the box was parried by Patrick Schulte but Bouanga reacted swiftly and buried the loose ball.

But the Crew were not for crumbling, responding positively - Rossi scuffing a chance to make it 3-1 and substitute Christian Ramirez appealing in vain for a penalty after bursting into the box.

The Crew held firm in seven minutes of added time to set off a party as the Ohio crowd celebrated a third title following their triumphs in 2008 and 2020.

Chiellini said Columbus had deserved the victory.

"It was a beautiful journey, that we have to be proud of it. Of course, I am sad for the game, I don't think they are better in general but they played much better tonight," he said.

The Columbus Crew won their third Major League Soccer title after beating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the MLS Cup final on Saturday. A penalty from Cucho Hernandez and goal from Yaw Yeboah gave the Crew a 2-0 lead at the interval before Denis Bouanga pulled a goal back for LAFC in the 74th minute.

The Columbus Crew won their third Major League Soccer title after beating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the MLS Cup final on Saturday. A penalty from Cucho Hernandez and goal from Yaw Yeboah gave the Crew a 2-0 lead at the interval before Denis Bouanga pulled a goal back for LAFC in the 74th minute. In what may have been the final game before retirement for former Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini and possibly a last appearance for LAFC for Mexican star Carlos Vela, last year's champions were convincingly beaten. Columbus, coached by little-known Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, dominated the game for long stretches while Steve Cherundolo's LAFC were unable to unleash their trademark counter-attacks. Nancy, who won his first major title as a coach in his first season with Columbus, said his team had improved throughout the season. "They have grown a lot as players, and as people. When we started, I told them 'Guys, impossible is an opinion'-- just enjoy it and we're gonna grow. And this is what happened. This is unbelievable," he said. "We played our way. I'm so proud". After a frantic start, in front of a loud, capacity 20,802 home crowd, Columbus quickly settled into their possession game thanks to the calming influence of veteran midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who has now won the title with three different clubs. French defender Steven Moreira had the first real opening, in the 16th minute, but his disappointing header from a promising position in the box was off target. The Crew's roaming Colombian striker Hernandez sent a reminder of his goal threat with a shot from 20 yards out which flashed wide of the post. Uruguayan attacking midfielder Diego Rossi was increasingly influential as he began to find spaces behind Hernandez and he went close in the 27th minute with a shot into the side-netting. - Fortunate penalty - The pressure on the Los Angeles defence was building but when the Crew broke through it was via a fortunate penalty award. Yeboah crossed from the left, Rossi flicked the ball up in the air and it struck the shoulder of Diego Palacios and then his arm. Referee Armando Villarreal had no hesitation pointing to the spot and Hernandez buried the penalty into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 in the 33rd minute. Within four minutes the Crew doubled their lead with a goal of perfect simplicity. Danish defender Malte Amundsen played a pinpoint defence-splitting pass to Yeboah who sped around the back of Ryan Hollingshead before poking home with the outside of his left-foot. The Crew fans, many of whom had been chanting in the stadium over two hours before kick off, were ecstatic and LAFC, who had created next to nothing for the league's top scorer Bouanga, looked shell-shocked. There was some encouragement though for the constantly singing black-clad visiting Los Angeles supporters on the stroke of half-time when a low cross from Cristian Olivera was almost sliced into his own goal by Crew defender Rudy Carmacho. Columbus continued to dominate after the break though with the livewire Yeboah, skipping past two defenders as he weaved into the box, chipping over the advancing Los Angeles keeper Max Crepeau only for Palacios to head off the line. There were signs that Columbus were starting to tire a little heading into the final 20 minutes with mistakes creeping into their game and LAFC pushed forward with more urgency. A burst of pace from Bouanga got him behind the defence but his low ball across the face of the goal went untouched. Moments later the French-born Gabon international got his team back into the game -- a right foot shot inside the box was parried by Patrick Schulte but Bouanga reacted swiftly and buried the loose ball. But the Crew were not for crumbling, responding positively - Rossi scuffing a chance to make it 3-1 and substitute Christian Ramirez appealing in vain for a penalty after bursting into the box. The Crew held firm in seven minutes of added time to set off a party as the Ohio crowd celebrated a third title following their triumphs in 2008 and 2020. Chiellini said Columbus had deserved the victory. "It was a beautiful journey, that we have to be proud of it. Of course, I am sad for the game, I don't think they are better in general but they played much better tonight," he said.

Columbus Crew beat Los Angeles FC for third MLS title

Inter Miami delivered the most impressive win of their Lionel Messi era, 3-1 over Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles FC on Sunday, with two assists from the Argentine boosting their playoff hopes.

Goals from Argentine forward Facundo Farias, Spanish full-back Jordi Alba and substitute Leonardo Campana of Ecuador earned Miami a statement victory that moves them within nine points of the playoff places with nine games remaining.

Messi's first MLS appearance in Los Angeles, attracted a capacity crowd, swollen by a host of A-List celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez and Prince Harry.

But the home fans left frustrated as last year's MLS Cup winners wasted a series of chances.

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French-born Gabon international Denis Bouanga had the first opportunity, bursting goalwards but with Mexican Carlos Vela unmarked to his right, unwisely chose to shoot and his effort was blocked -- to the fury of his teammate.

Bouanga had another great chance in the 11th minute after a fine through ball from former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini but Miami keeper Drake Callender pulled off an excellent save.

After surviving those early scares, Miami took the lead in the 14th minute when Tomas Aviles split the LAFC defence to find Farias who beat John McCarthy with a low shot on the slide.

Miami struggled to contain Bouanga but the LA forward was again unable to make the most of his opportunity when he burst through the middle but fired wide.

Mario Gonzalez should have done better when he was given space for a shot but blasted into the side-netting as Miami were increasingly threatening on the counter.

Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez broke forward and played a clever back-heel to Messi but the Argentine's shot was weak and easily dealt with by McCarthy.

Before the interval, Messi had his best chance of the game, again set up by the outstanding Gomez, but one-on-one with McCarthy, Messi saw his lofted shot pushed away by the LAFC keeper.

<h2>- 'Nice test' -</h2>

LAFC paid the price for the wastefulness in front of goal in the 51st minute when Miami's former Barcelona trio combined in style.

Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets fed Messi who picked out the overlapping Alba and he burst into the box to score with a cool, left-footed finish.

Miami were in firm control and wrapped up the win in the 83rd minute when Messi burst from midfield and slipped the ball outside to Campana who made no mistake with a curling finish.

"You know what Leo is, what he can give on the pitch. He gets the best (out) of everyone," said a beaming Campana. "Right now, the goal is to achieve the playoffs and I hope we can do it to give happiness to the people of Miami," added the striker.

LA got a 90th-minute consolation via Ryan Hollingshead’s glancing header from a corner and while the third-placed team in the Western Conference should have little trouble making the playoffs, they had been given a lesson in finishing.

Miami were bottom of the East and winless in 11 games in MLS before Messi's arrival and after winning the Leagues Cup, the Florida club have won two and drawn one in regular season action.

"It was a nice test for us to see where we stood, what we were able to do on a difficult ground against a very good opponent, the winners last year and we earned a very important victory for what is coming," Messi told broadcasters Apple TV. &nbsp;"This group grows more every day, we have been saying it since the beginning of all this. We were lucky to get a tournament and get into a final and now the goal is to get into the playoffs and fight for the league," he added.

"I feel good physically. Thank God I can continue playing and help the team in whatever way I can and hopefully we continue in this dynamic," he added.

In Sunday's other game, last year's runners-up, the Philadelphia Union, beat the New York Red Bulls 4-1 to keep their playoff hopes on track.

The score was 1-1 when Red Bulls' Sean Nealis was sent off after handling the ball and picking up a second yellow card.

Philadelphia took full advantage of the extra man after the break with goals from Jamaican Damion Lowe, Argentina Julian Carranza and Hungarian Daniel Gazdag.

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Inter Miami delivered the most impressive win of their Lionel Messi era, 3-1 over Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles FC on Sunday, with two assists from the Argentine boosting their playoff hopes.

Inter Miami delivered the most impressive win of their Lionel Messi era, 3-1 over Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles FC on Sunday, with two assists from the Argentine boosting their playoff hopes. Goals from Argentine forward Facundo Farias, Spanish full-back Jordi Alba and substitute Leonardo Campana of Ecuador earned Miami a statement victory that moves them within nine points of the playoff places with nine games remaining. Messi's first MLS appearance in Los Angeles, attracted a capacity crowd, swollen by a host of A-List celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez and Prince Harry. But the home fans left frustrated as last year's MLS Cup winners wasted a series of chances. ALSO READ: La Liga: Robert Lewandowski scores on penalty to help Barca win 2-1 against Osasuna French-born Gabon international Denis Bouanga had the first opportunity, bursting goalwards but with Mexican Carlos Vela unmarked to his right, unwisely chose to shoot and his effort was blocked -- to the fury of his teammate. Bouanga had another great chance in the 11th minute after a fine through ball from former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini but Miami keeper Drake Callender pulled off an excellent save. After surviving those early scares, Miami took the lead in the 14th minute when Tomas Aviles split the LAFC defence to find Farias who beat John McCarthy with a low shot on the slide. Miami struggled to contain Bouanga but the LA forward was again unable to make the most of his opportunity when he burst through the middle but fired wide. Mario Gonzalez should have done better when he was given space for a shot but blasted into the side-netting as Miami were increasingly threatening on the counter. Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez broke forward and played a clever back-heel to Messi but the Argentine's shot was weak and easily dealt with by McCarthy. Before the interval, Messi had his best chance of the game, again set up by the outstanding Gomez, but one-on-one with McCarthy, Messi saw his lofted shot pushed away by the LAFC keeper. - 'Nice test' - LAFC paid the price for the wastefulness in front of goal in the 51st minute when Miami's former Barcelona trio combined in style. Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets fed Messi who picked out the overlapping Alba and he burst into the box to score with a cool, left-footed finish. Miami were in firm control and wrapped up the win in the 83rd minute when Messi burst from midfield and slipped the ball outside to Campana who made no mistake with a curling finish. "You know what Leo is, what he can give on the pitch. He gets the best (out) of everyone," said a beaming Campana. "Right now, the goal is to achieve the playoffs and I hope we can do it to give happiness to the people of Miami," added the striker. LA got a 90th-minute consolation via Ryan Hollingshead’s glancing header from a corner and while the third-placed team in the Western Conference should have little trouble making the playoffs, they had been given a lesson in finishing. Miami were bottom of the East and winless in 11 games in MLS before Messi's arrival and after winning the Leagues Cup, the Florida club have won two and drawn one in regular season action. "It was a nice test for us to see where we stood, what we were able to do on a difficult ground against a very good opponent, the winners last year and we earned a very important victory for what is coming," Messi told broadcasters Apple TV. "This group grows more every day, we have been saying it since the beginning of all this. We were lucky to get a tournament and get into a final and now the goal is to get into the playoffs and fight for the league," he added. "I feel good physically. Thank God I can continue playing and help the team in whatever way I can and hopefully we continue in this dynamic," he added. In Sunday's other game, last year's runners-up, the Philadelphia Union, beat the New York Red Bulls 4-1 to keep their playoff hopes on track. The score was 1-1 when Red Bulls' Sean Nealis was sent off after handling the ball and picking up a second yellow card. Philadelphia took full advantage of the extra man after the break with goals from Jamaican Damion Lowe, Argentina Julian Carranza and Hungarian Daniel Gazdag. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Two assists from Lionel Messi inspire Inter Miami to beat MLS champions LAFC 3-1

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lived up to the bravado on Friday, scoring all three goals to power the LA Galaxy to a hard fought 3-2 victory over MLS rivals Los Angeles Football Club.&nbsp;

The unstoppable 37-year-old showed he's still capable of astounding feats by dominating the smaller LAFC defence and scoring when it counted the most for his second career MLS hat trick. &nbsp;

"When you play against a rival like that, in a full stadium, I get pumped. I get adrenaline. This is considered to be the biggest game in the league and I show up in the biggest games," said Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic, who has a flair for the dramatic since the big Swede joined the MLS in 2018, boasted prior to Friday's game that he is "by far" the best player in the league despite Carlos Vela's superior stats.

The pre-game hype was about the marquee matchup between Galaxy's Ibrahimovic and LAFC's Vela. The duo scored all five goals, but it was the Swede who delivered in the key moments, scoring in the eighth, 56th and 70th minutes.

The Galaxy depend almost entirely on Ibrahimovic for offence and he thanked them with another hat trick performance against the top-ranked team in the league.

"I am in playoff mode every day," said Ibrahimovic.

Vela scored his league-leading 20th and 21st goals in fourth and 97th minutes for LAFC, who were hoping to stake their claim to North American soccer supremacy with a win on Friday. Vela now has five more goals on the season than Ibrahimovic who is in second place.

Vela opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the season by converting a penalty kick into the bottom left corner. Vela took a pass down the wing and Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham came charging out of his net to trip him up.

Ibrahimovic tied it up four minutes later with a spectacular right-foot shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner at Dignity Health Park in south-central Los Angeles.&nbsp;

While in full flight, Ibrahimovic took a high pass from Julian Araujo off his chest to his right foot. He volleyed it over the head of two defenders and let it bounce once on the turf before blasting it home from long range.

He scored in the 56th minute on a header to give the Galaxy their first lead of the game. Ibrahimovic outleaped LAFC defender Jordan Harvey and lofted the ball from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal and out of the reach of goalkeeper Tyler Miller.

LAFC, who are on pace to break MLS records for points and goals scored this season, were controlling the offence around the hour point but all it took was one chance for Ibrahimovic to pad the Galaxy's lead.

Ibrahimovic blasted a left-footed shot from outside the box to the right corner in the 70th minute to bring the Galaxy to 3-1. It was his 520th career goal across all leagues.

Testy contest

Mexican international Vela rounded out the scoring in extra time by right footing a shot home but Ibrahimovic's heroics had already taken the fire out of the LAFC offence.

Tempers flared in the hotly contested contest in the 73rd minute between LAFC's Eddie Segura and the Galaxy's Rolf Feltscher. After they came together, players from both teams joined in on the mainly pushing and yelling match.&nbsp;

There were a total of eight yellow cards handed out Friday with five going to the Galaxy.&nbsp;

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lived up to the bravado on Friday, scoring all three goals to power the LA Galaxy to a hard fought 3-2 victory over MLS rivals Los Angeles Football Club.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lived up to the bravado on Friday, scoring all three goals to power the LA Galaxy to a hard fought 3-2 victory over MLS rivals Los Angeles Football Club. The unstoppable 37-year-old showed he's still capable of astounding feats by dominating the smaller LAFC defence and scoring when it counted the most for his second career MLS hat trick. "When you play against a rival like that, in a full stadium, I get pumped. I get adrenaline. This is considered to be the biggest game in the league and I show up in the biggest games," said Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic, who has a flair for the dramatic since the big Swede joined the MLS in 2018, boasted prior to Friday's game that he is "by far" the best player in the league despite Carlos Vela's superior stats. The pre-game hype was about the marquee matchup between Galaxy's Ibrahimovic and LAFC's Vela. The duo scored all five goals, but it was the Swede who delivered in the key moments, scoring in the eighth, 56th and 70th minutes. The Galaxy depend almost entirely on Ibrahimovic for offence and he thanked them with another hat trick performance against the top-ranked team in the league. "I am in playoff mode every day," said Ibrahimovic. Vela scored his league-leading 20th and 21st goals in fourth and 97th minutes for LAFC, who were hoping to stake their claim to North American soccer supremacy with a win on Friday. Vela now has five more goals on the season than Ibrahimovic who is in second place. Vela opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the season by converting a penalty kick into the bottom left corner. Vela took a pass down the wing and Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham came charging out of his net to trip him up. Ibrahimovic tied it up four minutes later with a spectacular right-foot shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner at Dignity Health Park in south-central Los Angeles. While in full flight, Ibrahimovic took a high pass from Julian Araujo off his chest to his right foot. He volleyed it over the head of two defenders and let it bounce once on the turf before blasting it home from long range. He scored in the 56th minute on a header to give the Galaxy their first lead of the game. Ibrahimovic outleaped LAFC defender Jordan Harvey and lofted the ball from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal and out of the reach of goalkeeper Tyler Miller. LAFC, who are on pace to break MLS records for points and goals scored this season, were controlling the offence around the hour point but all it took was one chance for Ibrahimovic to pad the Galaxy's lead. Ibrahimovic blasted a left-footed shot from outside the box to the right corner in the 70th minute to bring the Galaxy to 3-1. It was his 520th career goal across all leagues. Testy contest Mexican international Vela rounded out the scoring in extra time by right footing a shot home but Ibrahimovic's heroics had already taken the fire out of the LAFC offence. Tempers flared in the hotly contested contest in the 73rd minute between LAFC's Eddie Segura and the Galaxy's Rolf Feltscher. After they came together, players from both teams joined in on the mainly pushing and yelling match. There were a total of eight yellow cards handed out Friday with five going to the Galaxy.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic nets hat trick in upset win over LAFC

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a Swede striker scored twice on Major League Soccer debut and inspired Los Angeles Galaxy to overturn a 3-0 deficit against LAFC.

Los Angeles Galaxy was trailing by three goals then Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score a 40-yard wonder goal.

During media interaction, he said, "I need to come in the rhythm and to feel the game. But is not only about the game you need to adjust for the weather, you need to adjust for the team, the way it plays. We need to have a balance, the way you can play, to save strength for the whole game because under this weather condition is not easy. But I think also you get used to it."

Watch the wonder goal here:

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s debut for <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGalaxy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAGalaxy</a> 
 
? Zlatan subbed on at 3-1 down 
 
⚽️ Scores a screamer to equalise 
 
⚽️ Scores 90th minute winner 
 
Zlatan has arrived! ?? 
 
<a href="https://t.co/M9RxQDB4bd">pic.twitter.com/M9RxQDB4bd</a>
— Football Away Days (@sportingawayday) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportingawayday/status/980282554950606848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 April 2018</a></blockquote>
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Zlatan Ibrahimović on his LA Galaxy debut: 
 
? Subbed on in the 70th minute 
✅ 40-yard worldie in the 77th minute 
? Scored the winner in a 4-3 victory in the 91st minute 
 
Dare to Zlatan. ?<a href="https://t.co/Ep7joLoUDQ">https://t.co/Ep7joLoUDQ</a>
— Football Transfer (@Footy_Transferr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Footy_Transferr/status/980326539353927681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 April 2018</a></blockquote>
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On Thursday itself, Ibrahimovic marked his arrival at California and scored two goals including the winner.

Ibra scored a stunning volley from 40 yards just six minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to make it 3-3.

After that, he headed home Ashley Cole's cross in injury time to put Galaxy ahead in an extraordinary finale.

Former Manchester United striker scored twice on MLS debut and inspired Los Angeles Galaxy to overturn a 3-0 deficit against LAFC

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a Swede striker scored twice on Major League Soccer debut and inspired Los Angeles Galaxy to overturn a 3-0 deficit against LAFC. Los Angeles Galaxy was trailing by three goals then Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score a 40-yard wonder goal. During media interaction, he said, "I need to come in the rhythm and to feel the game. But is not only about the game you need to adjust for the weather, you need to adjust for the team, the way it plays. We need to have a balance, the way you can play, to save strength for the whole game because under this weather condition is not easy. But I think also you get used to it." Watch the wonder goal here: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s debut for @LAGalaxy ? Zlatan subbed on at 3-1 down ⚽️ Scores a screamer to equalise ⚽️ Scores 90th minute winner Zlatan has arrived! ?? pic.twitter.com/M9RxQDB4bd — Football Away Days (@sportingawayday) 1 April 2018 × Zlatan Ibrahimović on his LA Galaxy debut: ? Subbed on in the 70th minute ✅ 40-yard worldie in the 77th minute ? Scored the winner in a 4-3 victory in the 91st minute Dare to Zlatan. ?https://t.co/Ep7joLoUDQ — Football Transfer (@Footy_Transferr) 1 April 2018 × On Thursday itself, Ibrahimovic marked his arrival at California and scored two goals including the winner. Ibra scored a stunning volley from 40 yards just six minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute to make it 3-3. After that, he headed home Ashley Cole's cross in injury time to put Galaxy ahead in an extraordinary finale.

Watch: Ibrahimovic's debut wonder goal for LA Galaxy

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