Lionel Messi maintained his record of scoring in every game for Inter Miami CF as his new team cruised into the Leagues Cup semifinals with a 4 for Inter Miami -0 win over Charlotte FC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday.
Messi's eighth goal in five games since his arrival came with just four minutes remaining and with Inter Miami already three goals up for the perfect finale for the close to 22,000 in attendance at DRV PNK Stadium.
Inter Miami will travel to face last year's Eastern Conference champions Philadelphia Union on Tuesday as Inter Miami seek to continue their remarkable turnaround since welcoming the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Inter Miami's Josef Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute in Fort Lauderdale before Robert Taylor added a second in the 32nd minute.
Charlotte's Adilson Malanda scored an own goal in the 78th minute from a cross that was attended for Messi, eight minutes before last year's World Cup champion finally got onto the scoreboard.
That’s eight goals in just five matches for Messi, for anyone who has lost count.
That’s one more score by Inter Miami than the Dolphins managed in points in their preseason opener down the road against the Atlanta Falcons, for anyone keeping count.
Inter Miami now has five wins in five matches with Messi. In 22 Major League Soccer matches during the regular season pre-Messi, Inter Miami has, yes, five wins. And after struggling to put the ball in the net pre-Messi, Inter Miami has had three four-goal games in the tournament.
Josef Martinez scored on penalty kick in the 12th minutes and Robert Taylor scored in the 32nd as Inter Miami took a 2-0 lead into halftime. An own goal in the 78 minute solidified their lead against a feisty Charlotte team that could not make the most of its opportunities.
And Messi sent the fans home with a score and a smile in the final minutes, once again living up to the Messi Mania hype since joining the Miami MLS side last month.
Messi's transcendent impact has Miami two wins away from their first-ever trophy. The Herons await an Aug. 15 semifinal at the Philadelphia Union, with the winner advancing to the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 19.
Inter Miami could also progress into the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the top three Leagues Cup finishers reaching that continental competition.
Read more
Harry Maguire transferred with Manchester United in £30m deal Town in EFL Cup 2023 result : LEEDS UNITED 2-1 SHREWSBURYSarah H
Also on site :
- ‘He wins by knockout’: Michael Conlan predicts Cacace vs Wood and reveals his plans for 2025
- ‘Shadow Force’ Review: Two Spies Get Dragged From the Cold in Middling Action Opus
- UAE denies supplying Sudan paramilitaries with Chinese arms