In the second minute, Lionel Messi made a costly error that led to the opposition's opening goal. His pass back towards the penalty area inadvertently became an assist for Prince Owusu, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
Following this mishap, the number 10 quickly showcased his renowned skills - orchestrating the attack, creating opportunities, and finishing with precision. This helped Inter Miami exert relentless pressure on the goal of CF Montreal, a team currently near the bottom of the MLS standings. In the 33rd minute, Messi made his first amends with an assist to Tadeo Allende, whose low shot from outside the box leveled the score at 1-1.
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Messi (left) celebrates a goal during CF Montreal 1-4 Inter Miami on the morning of 6/7. Photo: AP |
Messi (left) celebrates a goal during CF Montreal 1-4 Inter Miami on the morning of 6/7. Photo: AP
Seven minutes later, Messi struck again. Receiving the ball on the right side of the penalty area, the 38-year-old skillfully dribbled past two defenders before placing a shot into the far corner, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead.
Inter Miami continued to dominate after the break. In the 60th minute, Telasco Segovia's shot from 20 meters hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the net, extending the lead to 3-1.
Two minutes after Segovia's goal, Messi produced a solo masterpiece. The 38-year-old weaved his way from midfield, evading four CF Montreal players, before firing a shot into the top corner to seal a 4-1 victory.
The victory on the morning of 6/7 propelled Inter Miami to ninth place in the overall MLS standings. Messi and his teammates now have 32 points, trailing leaders Philadelphia Union by eight points, having played three fewer games.
This win at CF Montreal marked Inter Miami's first game back after competing in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they were the sole U.S. representative to reach the round of 16. Inter Miami drew 0-0 with Al Ahly, 2-2 with Palmeiras, and defeated Porto 2-1 in the group stage before losing 0-4 to PSG.
Thanh Quy
