ISLAMABAD 03 August (Online): The Argentine scored two goals last season
Lionel Messi continues to show his greatness with the Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami as the Argentine scored a brace against Orlando City and secured a place in the final 16 of the Leagues Cup at the DRV PNV Stadium on Wednesday (August 2).
Messi, 36, opened the scoring for his team just in the 7th minute, cruising past Orlando’s defence and scoring with a brilliant finish on Robert Taylor’s fantastic lobbed pass.
However, Miami’s lead did not last long as the score was levelled just after 17 minutes by Orlando’s Cesar Araujo who scored on a rebound with a powerful strike.
Messi was shown a yellow card in the 21st minute for fouling Wilder Cartagena.
The first half ended 1-1 with both teams playing equally well.
In the second half, Miami were awarded a penalty as Josef Martinez went down in the box and also converted his penalty.
After almost 20 minutes, in the 72nd minute, Messi scored one more, this time with his right foot and ensured his team’s entry into the Round of 16.
The heated derby — where 27 fouls were made and seven yellow cards were shown — ended with a 3-1 victory for Messi’s team.
Messi, a master of his craft, has been on fire with his team. The footballer has scored five goals in just three games and it seems there is nothing stopping the Little Magician from producing moments of magic time after time.
Earlier, Orlando’shead coach Oscar Pareja informed Messi and Inter Miami stating that “we will be ready”.
“We will be ready. It was in our mind in our preparation; no other words in the last week other than Santos. We know that you can [overlook] things and then start thinking ahead, what if?” Pareja sent a message to Messi and his team.
It seems like Messi did not take this warning from Pareja lightly and replied with two important goals that knocked Orlando out of the cup.
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