MIAMI – No one at Chase Stadium on Saturday night could have predicted what would happen in the first half. Inter Miami CF lost at home first New York Red Bulls when the teams return from the break. Forty-five minutes later and Lionel Messi broke MLS record for contributing the most goals in a match in one won 6-2.
The Argentinian striker scored a goal for Matías Rojas before he scored himself, and then he assisted another for Rojas and all three Luis Suarez spectacular goals.
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Dante Vanzeir opened the scoring for the Red Bulls, helping Heron reminisce about their scary first encounter with New York this season when they lost 4-0 at Red Bull Arena on March 23. Inter Miami played through International break and also missed some matches. Player absent due to injury.
Messi missed the match with a hamstring injury, although he would have played against Argentina if fit, watching from afar as Miami faced a tough test.
The lack of attacking options forced Martino to field a 5-3-2 formation with Suarez and Leonardo Campana lead the attack. It only took the Red Bulls three minutes to score.
Vanzeir provided Lewis Morgan with a through ball, inspiring number 9 to shoot with his right foot from outside the penalty area into the bottom left corner of the goal. defender Tomás Avilés wrestle.
Morgan scored a hat-trick while Wikelman Carmona celebrated his first contribution of the season. Herons finished the night with seven shots, two on target, 70% possession and no goals. Miami was dumbfounded.
“There’s not much to say, except that we were dominated from start to finish,” Martino said after their first meeting. “When a team goes into a match with no desire to win, no spirit, no competition and the opponent just wants to win the match then they will win.”
Six weeks later, the first half gave the impression that the Red Bulls might just be Miami’s kryptonite. Only this time, Inter Miami showed off its not-so-secret weapon.
After the first half, Messi returned to the field with the intention of revenge. After just three minutes, he quickly handled the ball on the right wing, finding space for Rojas to make the perfect pass to complete the shot with his left foot.
Two minutes later, Messi himself put the ball into the net with a shot from the middle of the penalty area. The equalizer helped Miami calm their nerves and leave their opponents exhausted. The rain of goals lasted until Suarez completed his first hat-trick in MLS.
“It was easier with Leo,” Suarez said. “Obviously we know each other and sometimes you’ll notice we know where the other is and make moves without having to look at each other. That’s good for the team.”
Messi and Suárez currently lead the league with 10 goals. Argentina The star also leads MLS in assists with 12.
Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino witnessed many of Messi’s plays while coaching him at Barcelona from 2013-14 and with Argentina from 2014 to 2016. He also faced the striker when coaching the Paraguay and Mexico national teams.
But even after watching him for many years, Martino emphasized that it will be difficult to witness such an impressive performance against the Red Bulls again.
Martino said: “Messi had exceptional matches at Barcelona during my time working with him. “But I also remember the semi-final against Paraguay in the Copa America in Chile, where he didn’t score a single goal but he was still the best player on the field. In Barcelona, he had a match with Valencian where we lost 2-0 and then won 3-2 with three goals from him.
“And there’s someone else who’s against Seville when we lost 1-0 and then he scored three goals and we won 4-1. I always say this, and it’s a little redundant at this point, but he’s always doing something new. Being involved in all six goals in a team’s 6-2 win is something that is unlikely to happen again.”
As many predicted, Messi has become an indispensable part of Inter Miami’s success.
“He is not a key player just because of this game,” Martino concluded. “He’s always like that. Today, the combination between Messi and Luis in the second half worked well, just like in the old days. When they found each other, the whole team could support them in the match, and When we find space, they will have a huge influence in the game.
“There’s a reason MLS has a Designated Player and he’s ours. So when he’s out, the whole team feels it.”
Since his debut in July 2023, Inter Miami is 2-4-6 (WDL) when he is not playing and 15-7-3 when he is on the field in all competitions.
