He has 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season, Miami<\/a>‘s latest victory boosting them into second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.<\/p>\n Messi opened the scoring<\/a> in the 24th minute with a fortuitous rebound off a poor clearance by Matt Miazga<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was 1-1 at half-time after Kevin Denkey<\/a>‘s 41st-minute penalty, then Pavel Bucha<\/a> scored from close range to put the hosts 2-1 up soon after the break.<\/p>\n Messi struck again in the 55th minute, finishing off a flowing Miami attack with a left-footed shot from a cross by Rodrigo De Paul<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cincinnati’s Brazilian playmaker Evander<\/a> put the hosts back in front again with a blast from outside of the box in the 64th minute, his seventh goal in six matches.<\/p>\n But Messi set up a goal for young fellow Argentine Mateo Silvetti<\/a> in the 79th minute, with Mexico international German Berterame<\/a> scoring again for 4-3.<\/p>\n Messi forced the final goal in the 89th minute.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old launched himself at a cross from Silvetti and struck it with his right foot, the ball crashing off the post and deflecting in off goalkeeper Roman Celentano<\/a> for an own goal.<\/p>\n Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos was full of praise for his side.<\/p>\n “What they did today was brilliant, against a tough team and on a difficult pitch,” he said.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s very hard to play here. It\u2019s clear they\u2019re not here to stroll around MLS.<\/p>\n “They’re here to play, to give everything, and to show the world that football is played here too.”<\/p>\n He added: “We\u2019re leaving very happy.<\/p>\n “We were able to play football at a very high level.”<\/p>\n![\"Player](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/9b6674ec-9732-4b01-b624-a597a4a48136.jpg\" "\\"Player")
Player ratings from the matchFlashscore<\/p>\n