FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami, facing elimination in the Concacaf Champions Cup after an early goal by LAFC Wednesday night, advanced to the semifinals after some magic from Lionel Messi, including a late-game penalty kick, and a goal from an unlikely source, 20-year-old Pembroke Pines defender Noah Allen.

Messi scored the equalizer minutes after having another goal nullified in the first half, Allen put Miami up 2-1 with a second-half strike, and then Messi delivered the game-winning penalty kick at the 84-minute mark.

When Messi’s penalty kick hit the back of the net, the Chase Stadium crowd, which had been tense and on its feet, went wild. And when the final whistle finally blew, Messi leaped into the arms of goalkeeper Oscar Utari, who made a huge save in the closing minute.

A jubilant Miami coach Javier Mascherano ran around and hugged everyone in sight.

The pressure was on Messi and Miami entering the home game at Chase Stadium. They not only had to beat LAFC but dig themselves out of a 1-0 hole in the second and decisive leg of the aggregate-scored series.

Miami got off to a disastrous start, conceding a goal at the nine-minute mark to LAFC center back Aaron Long, who found himself unmarked after Ustari punched out a Los Angeles corner kick. That goal gave the visitors a 2-0 lead on aggregate and silenced the spirited home crowd, which came ready to party, decked in pink and black, banging drums and waving large banners.

Messi brought the stadium back to life in the 31st minute, scoring on a lightning quick free kick, but it was nullified because the head referee had not officially re-started play after the yellow card that led to the kick. Miami fans and coach Mascherano disputed the decision, but it stood.

Four minutes later, Messi struck again, and this one counted. He left footed a cross-body shot that went flying by the outstretched left arm of LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into the top-right corner. The Argentine captain celebrated with teammates and pointed to the sky, in memory of his grandmother. His fans went berserk.

The Champions Cup uses away goals as the tiebreaker, and LAFC won its home game 1-0 last week. If Los Angeles scored one goal in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami would need at least three to advance.

Miami’s second goal came from Allen, who is known for his tenacious defense. Wednesday night, when his team was desperate for a goal, he delivered a pass into the goal area, apparently meant for Fede Redondo, but it sailed through Redondo’s hair and past Lloris into the net. Allen was credited with the goal, the second of his MLS career.

Allen’s goal put Miami ahead 2-1 at the 61-minute mark and the tension in the stadium was palpable.

The crowd erupted six minutes later when Luis Suarez appeared to score the goal that would give Miami the 3-1 lead it needed to advance. But the referee waved it off for off-side after a VAR review.

Goalkeeping was critical Wednesday night and Mascherano decided to start Ustari over Drake Callender, who returned from injury last week.

The rest of the Miami Starting XI were: Marcelo Weigandt, Allen, Maxi Falcon, Jordi Alba, Redondo, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, Suarez and captain Messi.

Asked Tuesday about the goalkeeping situation, Mascherano said: “Drake’s last game [before last week] was against Atlanta, in November, so we were worried about this because if you put him in and he has not played for a long time, it is difficult, and more for a goalkeeper. So, we [played Ustari against L.A. and] played Drake against Toronto. Oscar is doing very well for us. We have three really good goalkeepers, all very professional, they work well between them and this is really important.”

Miami was without Sergio Busquets, one of the most respected defensive midfielders of his generation, for the game Wednesday as he is serving a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. He acts as an assistant coach on the field and often delivers the pass that leads to scoring opportunities.

Bright, who evolved from an untested rookie out of the University of New Hampshire last season to one of the team’s most reliable midfielders, had to step up, along with Redondo.

The LAFC starting lineup included: Lloris, Marlon Santos, Jesus Igor, Mark Delgado, Timothy Tillman, Sergi Palencia, Cengiz Under, Ryan Hollingshead, Nathan Ordaz, Long, and Denis Bouanga.

Following the loss to L.A., a full-strength Miami team settled for a 1-1 home tie against winless Toronto on Sunday. Messi, Alba and Busquets played the full 90-plus minutes and Suarez played 70 minutes, but Miami fell short in a game it was heavily favored to win, adding to the pressure to win on Wednesday.

“Rather than talk about pressure, what I would say is that when I was a player, what gave meaning to this profession were games like this one on Wednesday,” Mascherano said. “For a coach, it’s much easier to prepare for a game like this because, yes, we must get the team ready, but there is no need to provide extra motivation. The scenario itself is the biggest motivation.”

Miami has never advanced past the quarterfinals of this tournament.

“For us to reach the semifinals for the first time would be a historic moment for this club,” Mascherano added. “So, more than pressure we feel great hope and desire to play a great game, defensively and offensively. There is no better time to have a perfect performance, and I believe we can.”

It wasn’t perfect. But it was thrilling, and Miami is headed to the semifinals.

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