Tadeo Allende scored a second-half brace, Lionel Messi scored and provided three assists as Inter Miami pulled away to a 4-0 win over Inter. FC Cincinnati in Sunday's MLS Eastern Conference semifinals.
Mateo Silvetti, 19, also had a goal and an assist for No. 3 Miami, which continues its deepest MLS playoff run in club history by advancing to its first East final. Miami will play the winner of Sunday's semifinal between Philadelphia Union and New York City FC.
Cincinnati was eliminated at home for the third straight postseason, but fell one game short of reaching its second East final.
Miami's second straight playoff win, 4-0, following a home win over Nashville in the series-clinching game two weeks ago, came when manager Javier Mascherano decided not to return forward Luis Suarez to the starting lineup.
Suarez, who was previously Messi's longtime Barcelona teammate, served a suspension for a red card in the final in Nashville but scored 10 goals and 10 assists in the regular season.
But Messi and Miami's younger front four appeared to reach a new level in the final 180 minutes.
Messi has six goals and six assists this postseason — contributing to every Miami score — after scoring 29 goals and adding 19 assists during what will likely be his second straight. MLS Regular season MVP.
On Sunday, he scored his goal in the 19th minute during an even start to the match.
Jody Alba created the opportunity when he came forward from his left-back position to intercept a Cincinnati pass and create a turnover opportunity.
Silvetti eventually received the ball on the left flank and fired in a quick cross, which Messi immediately responded with a confident header past goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
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Silvetti doubled Miami's lead in the 57th minute in a sequence that began with a forehand throw-in. Allende took the shot well and then turned quickly, eluding a defender and spotting Messi in space near the penalty arc. Messi continued to move the ball from right to left, passing into the path of Silvetti, who superbly curled his shot past Celentano and inside the far post.
Allende added a brace in the 62nd and 74th minutes, both from transition opportunities. Messi was the first to take the ball away from Evander to create the breakthrough, with the final through ball on both occasions.
