CINCINNATI -- Inter Miami CF beat FC Cincinnati 4-0 at TQL Stadium on Sunday night to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in club history.

Captain Lionel Messi scored the first goal of the night, connecting with Mateo Silvetti to head the ball into the net and earn the early lead for the visiting team. Messi then assisted on the second goal by setting up Silvetti, who rocketed the ball into the lower right corner of the goal from the left side of the field.

Tadeo Allende added to Inter Miami's lead with goals in the 62nd and 74th minutes -- both from Messi assists -- to seal the win for Messi's side.

Luis Suárez, who missed out on Miami's final Round One match against Nashville due to a suspension, made an appearance in the second half, entering the game to replace Allende for the final minutes.

Inter Miami failed to beat FC Cincinnati during the 2025 MLS regular season, losing 3-0 away and drawing 0-0 at home without Jordi Alba and Messi on the pitch for the second confrontation.

But head coach Javier Mascherano insisted the team entered Sunday's game prepared to fight for the ticket to the next round, and his prediction proved spot on as Messi took it to the hosts in front of a sold out crowd of 25,513 in Cincinnati.

Miami will now prepare to face the winner of the Eastern Conference semifinal between New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union. If NYCFC win, Miami would host the team at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the conference final.

If Philadelphia wins, however, Miami would travel to Subaru Park to face the 2025 Supporters' Shield winners.