New season, same Lionel Messi.
The 38-year-old Argentine star put Inter Miami on his back once again, as the club came back to beat Orlando City 4-2 in MLS action on Sunday night. It marked Miami’s first ever win vs. Orlando in their stadium across nine tries.
It didn’t start off so well, though, as Miami found itself trailing 2-0 at halftime after two goals in six minutes from Orlando in the first half. Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda got on the scoresheet.
But Miami rallied sensationally in the second, starting with Matteo Silvetti’s goal in the 49th minute. That set the stage for Messi to score his first of the regular season. In the 57th minute, he took a pass off Telasco Segovia from just outside the box and drilled it to the opposite side of the net with his left.
Segovia then got on the scoresheet himself in the 85th minute. New striker signing Germán Berterame spun away from a defender on the left flank and put in a cross that found Messi, who slightly dinked it back to an incoming Segovia for the placed finish.
Messi had one more in him, though, and it was the best for last.
After 19-year-old midfielder Colin Guske picked up a second yellow card to get sent off in the 88th minute, Messi stepped up for the free kick. A few minutes later, he put up Miami 4-2 with a low but powered hit into the bottom left corner.
It’s the type of performance — and turnaround — Miami needed after being routed 3-0 away to possible MLS Cup rivals LAFC to open the regular season last weekend.
Miami will be away again to D.C. United next Saturday in MLS action.
Lionel Messi has finally agreed to a new contract with Inter Miami, a deal that required several months to complete and ensures that the sport’s biggest icon will be with the Major League Soccer club for its planned move into a new stadium next year.