Lionel Messi has now scored five goals in three games for Inter Miami. On Wednesday, in the round of 32 of the Leagues Cup, Inter Miami defeated Orlando City 3-1. Lionel Messi scored twice in the victory.
Messi maintained his perfect record with Miami by scoring twice from close range to help the team, who had been winless in all 11 league games before to his arrival, preserve their perfect record.
As a result, Messi will play his first game away from home with Miami, which will take place in Texas on Sunday against FC Dallas. The winner of that match will go to the quarterfinals of the competition, which is open to the best clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX in Mexico.
Despite being tormented by tight marking for the most of the game in Wednesday’s Florida derby, the seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or emerged as the decisive figure once again. The game will not be featured in the highlight movies of Messi’s career, but it will be featured in the highlight videos of the other players.
After a delay of 95 minutes due to a rainstorm, the game finally got underway with Miami picking up just where they left off in their 4-0 victory over Atlanta United the week before. They attacked with the same level of determination as they did in that game.
Messi pulled the ball down with his chest and volleyed it in from six yards out after it was chipped into his path by the Finnish winger Robert Taylor, who had cut in from the left and chipped a superb pass into the path of the on-running Messi.
Ivan Angulo’s low attempt was pushed out of the goal by Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, and Orlando equalized ten minutes later when Cesar Araujo, a Uruguayan, pounced on the outside of the box and sent a low effort into the corner. Orlando’s response was powerful, and they were able to draw even shortly after that.
Frustration
The Argentine forward displayed his first indications of irritation when he was given a yellow card for a foul he committed on Wilder Cartagena while Orlando were becoming more successful in their efforts to close down Messi.
It was evident that Orlando coach Oscar Pareja had given his squad the command to cede control of the ball to Miami in order to guarantee that they had enough men to crowd out and neutralize Messi and Busquets, and the strategy was proving to be successful.
There were not many opportunities for Messi to score, and the one time he did find some space near the goal, it was in the 32nd minute after DeAndre Yedlin had done some fine work, but he fired wide with his left foot.
Just before halftime, the Argentine had a chance to score with a free kick from inside his range, but goalkeeper Pedro Gallese was able to easily deflect his shot from more than 25 yards out.
Messi was dissatisfied as he exited the field at halftime, which may have been caused as much by the physical aspect of some of the marking he had gotten as it could have been caused by the lack of space he had found in the game.
But Miami was able to regain the lead without the participation of their top player when 18-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi sent a ball into the penalty area for Martinez, who, after feeling a tiny pull from Antonio Carlos, tumbled down and earned a penalty.
Martinez, after a stutter and a shuffle, was able to fire in the winning goal after Orlando’s objections were in vain. Orlando were dissatisfied with the verdict but their appeals were in vain.
When Taylor burst down the left side of the field and found Martinez at the back of the box, Martinez chested the ball and found Messi with a brilliant chip that Messi joyously tucked away to seal the victory for Miami and advance them to the round of 16.
Although Araujo had a goal disallowed in stoppage time, there was no problem for Messi’s squad in the closing portions of the match. Another former Barcelona star, Jordi Alba, made his debut for Miami after coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute.
The right back for Miami DeAndre Yedlin made the observation that Orlando’s strategy was motivated by fear, but Miami’s game was still driven by belief.
“He simply exudes an air of confidence that permeates everyone around him. If you put him in a challenging scenario, you can be certain that he will find a way to succeed despite the obstacles.
The other side of the coin is that it inspires some kind of terror in the eyes of the teams that we are competing against. They are shifting their weight a little bit back onto their heels, which is providing us with more room to play,” he said.