Messi Shines with Brace as Inter Miami Advances in Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi continued his stellar form, netting a double to propel Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over rival Orlando City, securing their spot in the Round of 16 in the Leagues Cup.
The match between Inter Miami and arch-rivals Orlando City faced a delay of over 2 hours due to adverse weather conditions. Nonetheless, the eager fans of Inter Miami and the U.S. did not have to wait long, as Messi found the net in the 7th minute, giving his team a 1-0 lead. A swift attacking combination in the early minutes led by forward Robert Taylor saw a beautiful assist that set Messi up for a precise close-range strike, opening the scoring for Inter Miami.
Messi’s early goal ignited immense excitement in the DRV PNK stadium stands. The home turf was packed with spectators rooting for Inter Miami. The Argentine superstar, only three matches into his tenure with the club, has already scored an impressive tally of 4 goals and contributed 1 assist. However, above all, the presence of Messi, along with Busquets and Jordi Alba (who entered the field in the second half), truly elevated the performance of the Inter Miami squad. Orlando City’s efforts paid off with an equalizer in the 17th minute, with Cesar Araujo finding the net with a long-distance strike from a set-piece situation. Nevertheless, in the second half, Messi and his Inter Miami teammates quickly regained control of the game.
In the 48th minute, forward Josef Martinez was fouled inside the penalty area, granting Inter Miami a penalty kick. Despite being the team captain, Messi stepped aside, allowing Josef Martinez to successfully convert the spot-kick and extend Inter Miami’s lead to 2-1.
In the 72nd minute, Josef Martinez returned the favor, providing a precise assist within the penalty area, enabling the Argentine superstar to slot home a close-range shot with his right foot, furthering Inter Miami’s advantage to 3-1.
With his brace, Messi increased his goal tally for Inter Miami to 5 goals in just 3 matches. This remarkable start in Messi’s new journey in the U.S. is endearing him to the local audience with each passing game, and he is even generating a substantial frenzy. The captivating performance on the pitch and the rapid integration into the team are solidifying Messi’s impact and influence in his new footballing venture.
