By Reinaldo Oliveros
Sep 14, 2024, 11:01 PM EDT
Lionel Messi is back in action with Inter Miami and he did so in great form with a double and an assist for Luis Suarez. Messi’s team took a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
It had been 105 days since Messi last wore the Inter Miami shirt. His last match was a 3-3 draw against Saint Louis on June 2, when he scored his twelfth goal in twelve games.
The Argentine’s tally now stands at fourteen goals in three MLS games. He plays at will, has fun and makes a difference with impressive ease, exposing the American league’s defenses, which are not used to this type of pressure.
Inter Miami has won five games in a row and is increasingly leading the MLS East with 62 points, one step away from celebrating the Supporters’ Shield victory for the best club of the regular season.
Coach Gerardo Martino’s team has ten more points than second-placed Cincinnati with six games left in the regular season.
Despite starting off behind, it took just two moves for Messi to change the course of the match. He scored the 1-1 goal in the 25th minute by taking advantage of an assist from Luis Suárez and finishing off his low cross with his right foot; just three minutes later, he received a pass from Jordi Alba on the left and finished with his left foot to celebrate his personal double.
Messi ends the day with an assist for Suárez
Inter Miami’s No. 10 received the first yellow card of his MLS career for delaying the take of a corner kick in the 87th minute.
His team finished the game in a lacklustre manner, and had to thank goalkeeper Drake Callender for making a great save after a serious mistake by Sergio Busquets in his own area.
In the addendumMessi gave Suarez the assist for the 3-1 that allowed the Pistolero to celebrate his seventeenth course target. With this amount, Suarez surpassed the record of Argentine Gonzalo Higuain (16 goals) in one season with Inter Miami.
Continue reading:
– Lionel Messi is finally “available” with Inter Miami after two months of injury