Inter Miami are in the form of their lives. They hope this continues when they welcome New York City FC to Chase Stadium on Saturday night for the Eastern Conference final, with a berth in the 2025 MLS Cup on the line.
While Miami brings star power and holds home pitch advantage, they come up against a New York City side riding high after eliminating the Supporters’ Shield winners. And there are reasons for NYCFC to believe they can pull off another upset here.
Sports Illustrated takes a look at three key battles that could define which team earns the honor of facing San Diego FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS Cup on Dec. 6
Lionel Messi (left) looks to get the better of Matt Freese (right) in the playoffs. / Jeff Dean/Getty Images, Adam Hunger/Getty Images
Lionel Messi has been on an absolute heater for Inter Miami all season and has taken things a step further in the playoffs. After a regular season that saw him score 29 goals and register 19 assists in 29 games, he now has six goals and six assists in just four playoff games.
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But, he hasn’t seen a goalkeeper like U.S. men’s national team backstop, Matt Freese. The 27-year-old has been in stellar form as well, posting five saves–including four outstanding stops–against the Philadelphia Union, to help NYCFC advance past the Supporters’ Shield champions.
While Messi has shown his ability to score in nearly every way possible, the clear-cut opportunities he saw and created against FC Cincinnati and Nashville will be fewer against a stronger defensive team. The opportunities he does get will come up against a better goalie between the posts.
If NYCFC pulls off the upset, Freese will have a big part to play in it. If he’s not on his game, well, Miami can put together its plans to beat San Diego or the Whitecaps in MLS Cup.
Sergio Busquets will battle in midfield against Kevin O’Toole. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Kevin O’Toole has had quite a few weeks. He was called up to Ireland for the first time, making the bench as the Irish beat Portugal in a game Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. Now, he’s clashing with Sergio Busquets in midfield, as well as Messi and the other stars in Miami.
If anyone is playing with confidence, it’s him. Against Philadelphia, he shut down Danley Jean Jaques and recorded eight defensive contributions.
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He will likely be paired with Aidan O’Neill (who served a one-match suspension against Philadelphia) and tasked with combating Busquets in central midfield, and working the ball away from the Spaniard and Rodrigo De Paul. Busquets, in particular, has been potent with his ability to slide passes through Nashville and FC Cincinnati’s midfield and clogging things up in that area of the pitch will be critical for NYCFC.
Lionel Messi was unable to help Inter Miami to a win in the 2025 Leagues Cup final against Seattle Sounders FC. / Rich Lam/Getty Images
Outside of the individual player level, the mentality of both teams is starkly different, with NYCFC on the road and Inter Miami facing a match of defining proportions.
Led by the veteran poise of Maxi Moralez, New York City FC knows how to win playoff games on the road. In their run to the 2021 MLS Cup title, NYCFC played every game after the first round on the road, just as they would have to do should they make it all the way to the trophy this time around.
Meanwhile, Miami has fallen short in the most defining games. So far through the playoffs, it has been about seeing off disaster in the wake of the 2024 first-round elimination against Atlanta United.
They have been able to push the season through two rounds for the first time in club history, but now comes their first massive test–they would even get to lift the Eastern Conference trophy should they win here.
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Miami’s ability to win trophies doesn’t paint a pretty picture: A 2024 Leagues Cup final loss and a 2023 U.S. Open Cup loss hangs alongside their 2023 Leagues Cup title, the only knockout trophy Miami has captured to date.
On Saturday, one of those aspects has to fall. Will it be NYCFC’s away abilities, or Miami’s poor record in big games?
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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a ground stop for all incoming flights at Miami International Airport Wednesday.
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The order was initially issued at about 8:30 a.m. due to poor visibility in the area caused by “low ceilings.”
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According to The Weather Channel, a low ceiling “refers to low clouds or fog,” making it too dangerous to fly.
MIA spokesman Greg Chin said airport officials are still determining the number of flights affected.
The FAA’s order was lifted around 9:30 a.m.
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Click here to view real-time airport statuses across the National Airspace System.
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Amanda Batchelor
Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — – Tre Donaldson scored 23 points, Malik Reneau recorded a double-double and Miami took control in the second half to beat Notre Dame 81-69 on Tuesday night.
Reneau scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with five steals, Shelton Henderson added 17 points and Dante Allen had 11 points for Miami (15-2, 4-0 ACC), which shot 50% (29 for 58).
Jalen Haralson scored 18 points and reserve Sir Mohammed had 15 points for Notre Dame (10-7, 1-3), which has lost four of its last five.
The Hurricanes used a 17-5 run in the first six minutes of the second half to turn a 39-all halftime score into a 56-44 advantage. Donaldson made 4 of 5 shot attempts and scored nine points during that span.
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It took nearly 10 minutes for the Irish to score 10 points in the second half. Notre Dame could only get within seven points on two occasions in the last nine minutes.
The Hurricanes won their 10th straight game, the first time the program has accomplished the feat in eight seasons.
Up next
Miami travels to face 22nd-ranked Clemson on Saturday.
Losers of three straight, Notre Dame heads to Virginia Tech to face the Hokies on Saturday.
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A man was hospitalized in critical condition after he was stabbed near an ATM in Miami on Tuesday morning, officials said.
Miami Police officials said the man was stabbed around 8:20 a.m. in the area of West Flagler Street and Northwest 12th Avenue in Little Havana, near a Truist bank.
Miami Fire Rescue officials said the 33-year-old was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
The man’s identity wasn’t released and officials haven’t said what led to the stabbing but said no arrests have been made.
