Lionel Messi scored two goals and assisted on two by Tadeo Allende to spark Inter Miami in a 4-0 rout of Nashville on Saturday to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Argentine icon Messi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, added another goal in the 39th and set up compatriot Allende’s goals in the 73rd and 76th that sealed Miami’s triumph.

“I want to congratulate Leo for the game he played,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “He was the first one who guided us in high pressure. To see him press like that at 38 years old is crazy. We all know about Leo with the ball, but what happened with Leo without the ball today was impressive.”

Inter Miami won the best-of-three Eastern Conference first round series 2-1 to book a second round match against FC Cincinnati, who defeated Columbus 2-1 in another series-deciding encounter.

“The team played an almost perfect game,” Mascherano said. “There are always things to improve, but we were at a very high level in all lines, very intense from the first minute, very organized and very good in high pressure.”

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi ensured Miami would avoid a third first-round exit in four seasons after having fallen to Atlanta last year and New York City in 2022.

“It would have been very unfair to be eliminated at this stage,” Mascherano said. “What happened last year it had remained a bit in the atmosphere and you could feel that fear that it could happen again. And now there is nothing better than looking forward.”

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