The road to the 2025 MLS Cup took a wild turn on Sunday. While Inter Miami powered through with a dominant 4-0 win over Cincinnati, the real shock came in the other semifinal: Philadelphia Union, champions of the Supporters’ Shield, were knocked out at home by an unfavored but perfectly prepared New York City FC.

Against all predictions, Messi’s team will now play for a spot in the MLS Cup Final against a rival no one expected.

New York City Stuns Philadelphia

The Union, owners of the best regular-season record and playing with home-field advantage, seemed destined for another conference final. But MLS playoffs love chaos, and this time the script belonged to Maximiliano Moralez.

The veteran Argentine midfielder scored the game’s only goal in the 27th minute after a sequence full of Albiceleste flavor: Agustín Ojeda burst down the right wing, Nico Fernández delivered a perfectly weighted assist, and Moralez finished with cold precision inside the box.

Philadelphia never found a way back. Neither the crowd pressure, nor their Supporters’ Shield pedigree, nor the consistency they showed all season could save a match that even local analysts didn’t see coming.

An Unexpected Final With Recent History Behind It

New York City’s win not only sends them into the Eastern Conference Final, it also reignites a rivalry featuring intense battles in recent MLS seasons. Now, the sky-blue squad will travel to Miami to take on Inter Miami next Saturday.

The winner will punch their ticket to the MLS Cup, where Western Conference champions Vancouver are already waiting to complete the final matchup.

Messi Is the Favorite… but With Caution

Inter Miami arrives in top form, playing at a high competitive level and with Lionel Messi chasing his first major trophy in the United States. But NYCFC’s upset in Philadelphia serves as a clear warning: underestimating them would be a mistake.

The story will be written in Miami. And in this unpredictable MLS, anything can happen.