In his first game back from injury, Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided an assist as Inter Miami defeated Philadelphia Union 3-1.
Argentina’s captain, who won the World Cup, has not played since suffering an ankle injury during their team’s Copa America championship match against Colombia in July.
He missed eight games for his Major League Soccer team as a result, despite the fact that they are now leading the MLS Eastern Conference standings. He also missed this month’s World Cup qualifiers.
However, in his first start in three months, the 37-year-old former Barcelona great dominated the show while playing the entire ninety minutes.
“Messi returns from injury and scores twice in four minutes.”
Mikael Uhre gave Philadelphia the lead after 58 seconds, but Messi gave Miami a point in the 26th minute when he beat a defender and scored after Luis Suarez’s ball and some excellent work by Jordi Alba, another former Barcelona teammate.
After being set up by Alba, Messi put his club ahead four minutes later. In injury time during the second half, he then set up Suarez for Miami’s third goal.
Messi said he was “a little tired” after the game. He now has 14 goals in 13 games this season.
We agreed that I would start because I was gradually getting better and enjoying myself while working out with the group. I’m thrilled about this.
In another matchup between the two best clubs in the Western Conference, LA Galaxy overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat LAFC 4-2.
Source: BBC
