Overview:
Inter Miami CF snapped its five-match winless streak Saturday in impressive fashion, rolling to a 7-1 triumph over CF Montreal at Nu Stadium on Saturday night.
There was no stopping Lionel Messi on Saturday night. (Jon van Woerden Photo)
MIAMI – Inter Miami CF snapped its five-match winless streak Saturday in impressive fashion, rolling to a 7-1 triumph over CF Montreal at Nu Stadium on Saturday night.
Lionel Messi produced his finest performance of the MLS season, scoring four goals and assisting on a fifth as he took over the MLS Golden Boot leading spot with 18 goals.
The hosts dominated from the opening whistle and never let up, connecting five times in the second half.
Inter Miami, which is in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference, improved to 12-4-6 and 402 points. Montreal (21) dropped to 5-11-6.
Messi let Montreal know that he meant business when he rifled a shot off the right post in the 10th minute.
Miami took the lead in the 20th minute as Telasco Segovia whipped a corner kick into the penalty area, where Carlos Casemiro headed it home, his first goal for home team.
The visitors’ first shot, by Fabian Herbers, took a slight deflection before sneaking into the bottom-left corner, leaving Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair with no chance for a 1-1 tie in the 37th minute.
A minute later, Messi scored his first goal off a free kick. It took a slight deflection off a Montréal defender’s foot before hitting the goalkeeper and finding the net for a 2-1 lead.
Messi saved his best for last half, scoring thrice, making it 3-1 in the 52nd minute,
His final two tallies came in the 83rd minute and sixth minute of stoppage time with the final one also coming off a free kick.
Uruguayan international Luis Suarez scored his 11th goal off an assist from Messi — his 10th of the campaign— for a 4-1 advantage in the 80th minute. Alexander Shaw, 18, made it 6-1 in the 89th with his first goal in three appearances and 37 minutes of action.