CINCINNATI — Lionel Messi has too many special qualities to list, but the most spellbinding of them all is his preternatural ability to find open space off the ball.
If there is one player in the world whom all 11 opposing players are focused on limiting, it’s Messi. Yet, still, his ability to camouflage himself, to blend harmlessly within the framework of the match off the ball before exploding into an empty space at the exact right time is magic.
It was that type of ability, and intelligent movement to shake a couple of defenders tracking his run, that led to Messi scoring the opening goal in Inter Miami’s 4-0 thrashing of FC Cincinnati in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals.
Messi turned creator from there on out, creating Miami’s next three goals with inch-perfect through balls to spring teammates with golden, one-on-one opportunities to score.
Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti were the benefactors Sunday evening, quickly rendering a once-raucous TQL Stadium to complete silence by the 75th minute.
Miami has scored 12 goals in four postseason matches. Messi has scored or assisted on every single one. And yet once again, manager Javier Mascherano chose to harp on another one of those special qualities.
“Messi is leading the team in defense, pressing high,” Mascherano said after the match. “When his teammates see Leo in this way, it’s impossible not to follow him. It’s unbelievable.”
Miami will now host the Eastern Conference final next weekend against New York City FC, with the shorthanded side toppling Supporters’ Shield-winning Philadelphia 1-0 Sunday night. With Miami having a better regular-season record than any remaining Western Conference side, the road to MLS Cup goes through South Florida.
That matters greatly. Though Sunday’s win proved a jubilant moment for the club, the furthest it has gone in its young history, it is not enough — nor has Miami lost sight of the only goal, not even for a second.
“Two wins. That’s what I told the team in the locker room: Dos mas,” managing owner Jorge Mas said. “That’s the goal.”
Last season, Miami was embarrassed by Atlanta United in Round 1 of the playoffs. It was the biggest upset in MLS playoff history, after Atlanta finished the regular season 34 points behind Miami.
There were bumps in the road this season, including an early-season swoon and a Leagues Cup final loss to the Seattle Sounders, but Miami may be playing its best soccer right now. With Messi delivering 11 goals and 11 assists in the club’s last seven games, the attack needs no additional help.
Along the way, the defense has vastly improved, too.
“Two clean sheets — who would have said that about Inter Miami, right?” Mas said, smiling.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano provides instruction to Lionel Messi during Sunday night’s rout of FC Cincinnati. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
Mascherano deserves a lot of credit for the team’s evolution, not just from Tata Martino’s side last year but where this team sat in June.
Over the final few months of the season, Mascherano has tweaked the defensive personnel and hammered home his game model to help eliminate easy goals in transition. He has benched goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, center back Tomás Avilés and right back Marcelo Weigandt as he found a preferred defensive group, and he found the best role for key summer signing Rodrigo De Paul.
On Sunday, Mascherano made his toughest decision yet: benching Luis Suárez.
The Uruguayan legend returned from his one-game suspension and was available for selection, but after Miami unlocked a more fluid attack — with Messi playing as a false nine and wingers Allende and Silvetti flanking him — against Nashville, Mascherano kept that attacking trio against Cincy.
For only the second time in 49 appearances this season, Suárez came off the bench. Mascherano credits the forward’s mentality for how he accepted the decision and helped lead his teammates.
“He’s set an example of greatness in how to behave. He’s been a clear example for his teammates,” Mascherano said. “Taking off a player who has scored 600 goals is not easy.”
Suárez was seen regularly getting up to encourage his teammates from the bench during the game. He entered the match in the 76th minute, when Miami had just scored its fourth goal.
Lionel Messi was dominant versus FC Cincinnati, with a goal and three assists. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
In his first senior head-coaching role, Mascherano was tossed in the deep end with Miami. After leading the Argentine U-20 and U-23 teams at international tournaments, he took over Inter Miami this winter. A former teammate of Messi’s at Barcelona, his hiring was questioned.
Miami had no reservations, firmly believing Mascherano was the right man for the job.
“It’s Masche’s first high-profile job as a coach. I think he’s done an amazing job,” Mas said. “This is not an easy club to manage. First, the expectations placed on him from us — the owners and the players. We’re here to lift trophies.”
Miami hasn’t won a trophy yet this season — and still might not — but with Messi’s qualities shining, the defense settling and Mascherano seemingly pulling the right strings, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this club is the favorite to bring home the MLS Cup.
“What they did today is what we expect,” Mas said. “They took care of business.”
Two more wins net the trophy Miami has been yearning for since Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Suárez arrived.
Dos mas.