With two assists from the Argentine, Inter Miami defeated Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles FC 3-1 on Sunday, earning their biggest victory of the Lionel Messi era and strengthening their chances of making the playoffs.
Three goals from Spanish full-back Jordi Alba, Ecuadorian substitute Leonardo Campana, and Argentine attacker Facundo Farias gave Miami a convincing win that puts them nine points out of the playoff spots with nine games left.
Celebrities like as Leonardo DiCaprio, Selena Gomez, and Prince Harry helped to energize the home crowd, but many were left disappointed as the MLS Cup champions from the previous year missed several opportunities.
Following a few early scares, Miami seized the lead in the 14th minute when Farias beat John McCarthy with a low shot after Tomas Aviles broke the LAFC defense.
French-born Gabon international Denis Bouanga missed many easy opportunities for Los Angeles, and the former Barcelona trio from Miami made them pay handsomely in the 51st minute.
Messi was passed by Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, who then found the overlapping Alba and scored with a crisp, left-footed finish.
With Messi bursting out of midfield and slipping the ball outside to Campana, who finished with a curling strike that left no mistake, Miami was in complete control and sealed the victory in the 83rd minute.
In the ninetieth minute, Ryan Hollingshead’s looping header off a corner gave LA some solace.