Messi scores 100th Inter Miami goal as Miami beats Cruz Azul 2-0

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career and Casemiro added another as Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the Campeones Cup.

Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suárez for his 100th goal in 115 appearances across all competitions with Miami.

The milestone came against the same club Messi scored his first Inter Miami goal against. He scored on a stoppage-time free kick to beat Cruz Azul 2-1 in his Miami debut in July 2023.

Casemiro made it 2-0 in the 81st minute, heading in a corner from Messi.

The Brazilian midfielder has scored four goals, all headers, in his last five matches after scoring in three consecutive games against CF Montreal, Atlanta United and Chicago before being held scoreless Saturday against Nashville.

The victory gave Inter Miami another trophy three years after Messi’s arrival. Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 and MLS Cup in 2025.

Inter Miami returns to MLS play Sunday when it hosts San Diego FC at Nu Stadium. Miami enters the match second in the Eastern Conference standings.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Cruz Azul defender Jesús Orozco, left and Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez, right, chase the ball during the first half of the Campeones Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami midfielder Casemiro, center, scores a goal during the second half of the Campeones Cup soccer match against Cruz Azul, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cruz Azul midfielder Amaury García, left, falls to the field after he goes for the ball against Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, during the first half of the Campeones Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami forward Leo Messi, left, runs with the ball as Cruz Azul midfielder Carlos Rodríguez defends during the first half of the Campeones Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of the Campeones Cup soccer match against Cruz Azul, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run homer and the Cincinnati Reds at least temporarily prevented the Los Angeles Dodgers from clinching the NL West title with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night.

The Dodgers (92-60) needed a win or a loss by San Diego to win their fifth straight NL West crown and 13th in 14 seasons. The Padres played at Colorado later Wednesday.

Left-hander Blake Snell started for the Dodgers but departed after one inning with left groin tightness. Snell, who threw a no-hitter for the Giants in his last appearance in Great American Ball Park, faced three batters, allowing a hit with a strikeout on 19 pitches.

Blake Treinen took over in the second as the first of six relievers used by Los Angeles.

Mookie Betts singled off Andrew Abbott in the third and scored on Will Smith's double to put the Dodgers ahead 1-0. Abbott allowed a run on three hits with five walks in 4 2/3 innings. Tejay Antone (3-2), the third of six Cincinnati pitchers, got the last out of the sixth.

De La Cruz's homer off Seth Halvorsen (1-2), his 28th of the season, put the Reds ahead 2-1 in the third. It was De La Cruz's fifth longball against the Dodgers this season, most of any opposing player.

Dane Myers' homer off Bobby Miller, his seventh, extended the Reds' lead to 3-1 in the fifth.

Juan Brito's RBI single made it 4-2 in the sixth.

TJ Friedl singled with the bases loaded in the seventh to drive in two runs. Sal Stewart was thrown out at the plate by Dodgers center fielder Tommy Edman to end the inning.

The Dodgers stranded 12 runners and went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

RHP Brady Singer (6-14, 5.38 ERA) will start Thursday's series finale for the Reds. The Dodgers had not announced their starter.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with Teoscar Hernández (37) after scoring on a double hit by Will Smith during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts rounds third base on his way to score on a double hit by Will Smith during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Dane Myers, left, watches his solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is at right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Dane Myers (17) celebrates hitting a solo home run with Elly De La Cruz (44) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)