Inter Miami’s Dominant Victory
In a stunning performance on Wednesday night, Lionel Messi propelled Inter Miami CF to a dominant 4-0 victory against New York City FC, securing a coveted playoff berth. This win marked the third consecutive match in which Miami (16-6-7) achieved victory, bringing their astonishing season total to 64 goals, the highest in the league. Notably, Messi delivered a stellar outing with two goals and an assist, pushing his contributions for the season to 37.
High-Scoring Trend
The match saw Miami continuing a trend of high-scoring games, as five of their last six encounters in Major League Soccer have included a minimum of three goals, including a thrilling 3-2 win over D.C. United prior to this match.
Messi’s Historic Performance
With a promising assist in the first half, Messi etched his name in MLS history as the first player to log 35 or more goal contributions in back-to-back seasons. He further established his dominance with two goals in the second half, making him the fourth player to achieve eight multi-goal matches within a single season.
Messi’s first of the night came in the 74th minute, where he skillfully lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Matt Freese, who had ventured far from his goal in an attempt to intercept a breakaway.
Shortly after, Luis Suárez, returning from a suspension, successfully converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Messi capped off his impressive performance by netting another goal just three minutes later.
Defensive Highlights
On the defensive end, goalkeeper Óscar Ustari showcased his skills by earning his sixth clean sheet of the season. Meanwhile, this defeat halted New York City’s winning streak at three games, leaving them with a record of 16-10-5. The team’s first-half opportunities were promising; however, Thiago Martins failed to convert a header during a corner kick, and Nicolás Fernández‘s effort narrowly missed the post after he outmaneuvered his defender.
Overall, it was a match dominated by Inter Miami, with Messi at the forefront of their successful playoff journey.
