- FORT LAUDERDALE (USA)—
Lionel Messi scored twice and had an assist, and Inter Miami broke out of its
slump with a 4-2 victory over Montreal.
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- Messi scored in the 27th and 87th minutes and set up Luis
Suárez's goal with some nice dribbling in the 68th. Suárez added another in the
71st on Wednesday night.
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- The win gave Messi's Inter Miami team just its second
victory in its past eight matches. Miami last won on May 3, going 0-2-2 since
then and dropping to sixth in the Eastern Conference.
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- It has been a surprising plunge for a team that went 22-4-8
during the regular season in 2024 to set MLS records for points (74) and
winning percentage (.765) and captured the Supporters Shield — so puzzling that
Messi spoke recently of the group's need to stick together despite the
difficulties.
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- His pep talk seemed to work.
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- In its last match, Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit to
tie Philadelphia, which leads MLS with 10 wins this season. And that momentum
carried over against Montreal, which is last in the Eastern Conference with
only one win.
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- “We know in what situation we are (in),” said Miami coach
Javier Mascherano. “Sometimes you have to analyze not just the result, you have
to analyze the game, how we play. I think in some games we didn't get the
result that we wanted. We deserved it a little bit more, but in (soccer), you
don't deserve, you have to do.”
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- Messi's first goal on Wednesday was set up by Sergio
Busquets, who delivered a pass to his former Barcelona teammate and set the
screen that freed up Messi for his seventh goal of the MLS season.
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- Messi then linked up with Suárez to give Miami a two-goal
cushion midway through the second half, and iced the win on a pass from Suárez
just before the end of regulation.
