By Chalien Dantes

Lionel Messi tore through the night with a goal and three assists as Inter Miami cruised past FC Cincinnati 4-0, sending the club into its first Eastern Conference final. Tadeo Allende added two goals of his own.

Next up is a showdown at home against New York City FC, which edged Philadelphia earlier in the day. The winner earns a trip to the MLS Cup on December 6. Messi, meanwhile, reached a new playoff milestone with 12 total goal involvements, a new league record.

Cincinnati entered with one of the best regular-season records in MLS, but Miami wasted no time taking control. Messi had been held scoreless in previous meetings with Cincinnati, yet that run ended in the 19th minute when he headed in a short cross from Mateo Silvetti. It was Messi’s 11th goal in seven matches. He nearly added a second moments later, slipping behind the back line only to fire wide of the far post. Cincinnati’s big chance came when Ender Echenique nodded the ball across to Evander, who blasted over the bar.

Miami kept the pressure on, outshooting Cincinnati and stretching the lead early in the second half. Silvetti, filling in for Luis Suárez, fired in Miami’s second goal with a sharp strike from the left side. Suárez had been suspended for violent conduct in the previous round, and coach Javier Mascherano chose not to reinsert him.

In the 62nd minute, Messi sliced a clever pass through Cincinnati’s defense to Allende, who made it 3-0. Allende struck again in the 74th minute, sealing a night that belonged entirely to Miami’s attack.