Messi road show thrills Philly as ticket prices hit record high

CHESTER, Pennsylvania — Lionel Messi keeps scoring goals, and Inter Miami keeps winning games.

Messi ripped a shot from 30 yards (27 meters) past three Philadelphia defenders in the 20th minute that made fans who paid a record price for soccer tickets in the Philly area rejoice, and Inter Miami beat the Union 4-1 in a Leagues Cup semifinal on Tuesday night.

North American soccer is undoubtedly Messi's realm now.

Messi exchanged jerseys with fellow Argentinian and Union forward Julian Carranza, then skipped out on the traditional postgame interview and instead saved his message for his 483 million Instagram followers.

"We worked our way to the finals and we made it!!! We're still on the last step," he wrote.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner scored his ninth goal in six matches with his new team in front of a crowd that pushed 20,000 fans, with ticket prices soaring past $1,000 on the secondary market.

There were few complaints.

Certainly not from three Union season-ticket holders who ditched the home team's garb for a night and traded it for Messi gear. Or fans that lined up for Messi jerseys — authenticity not guaranteed — and the ones buying Messi fries from a food truck.

And certainly not from the Union, who, of course wanted to win, but otherwise stuffed the coffers and received more worldwide attention on one night than in any game they've played in their history.

Fans erupted when the 36-year-old Messi was introduced and went wild again when he scored past diving goalkeeper Andre Blake. Messi ran with his arms extended and then punched his fist in the air as he leapt in celebration.

The rest was almost incidental.

Jordi Alba and Josef Martinez also scored in the first half for Miami, and David Ruiz scored in the second. Miami will play in the Leagues Cup championship game on Saturday against Nashville, who beat Mexican club Monterrey 2-0 later on Tuesday.

Alejandro Bedoya scored in the second half for Philadelphia.

"They're only going to get better. That Miami team is gonna go," Union coach Jim Curtain said. "Their ownership is going to spend like crazy. They're going to make them the best team in the league. They might already be the best team in the league. That's coming and I don't think anything's stopping them."

Union principal owner Jay Sugarman told The Associated Press there was no real consideration given to moving the game from Subaru Park to Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles. While the football stadium would have packed in another 40,000-plus fans, Sugarman said the game would stay put.

Philly native and Hall of Fame boxer Bernard Hopkins struck the giant drum that welcomed the team to the field and Sixers center and NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who played soccer as a child in Cameroon, showed interest in the game.

"Make sure y'all show love to the (GOAT) in our city tonight but let's first get this dub #DOOP #Philly," he wrote on social media.

Inter Miami already played in Chester before Messi had signed, leaving Union officials to study the Leagues Cup field like an NCAA Tournament bracket once it was announced.

"You try not to, but of course we were like, if we do this, and they do this," Sugarman said, laughing. "We hope we're playing in front of a worldwide audience tonight. It's a chance for the Philadelphia Union to put on the best show we can against one of the best teams and best players."

Led by the rabid supporters group called "Sons of Ben", the Messi game sold out in less than 10 minutes and the price exploded this week on the secondary market. River End seats that normally go for $43 spiked to more than a grand, and the average price of $556 was the highest in Union history. An hour or so before the game, tickets in the lower level were still going for $450 and up.

Agencies Via Xinhua