Lionel Messi was a guest in the Big Apple – and once again scored a brace. There were numerous goals in the city derby in Los Angeles.
The run of goals only spurred Lionel Messi on. In Inter Miami’s 5-1 rout of the New York Red Bulls, the Argentine scored the last two goals of the game – and set up two more beforehand. With the win three days after their 3-0 defeat in Cincinnati, the Floridians underlined their claims to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. For Sandro Schwarz’s side, the home defeat in Harrison, New Jersey, is a bitter setback in this regard.
The game had started well for the home side. Former Mainz player Alexander Hack put his team ahead in the 14th minute after a pass from former Leipzig player Emil Forsberg. It didn’t take long for the equalizer to come: Messi with a spectacular pass to Jordi Alba – 1-1 (24′).
Messi leads the scoring charts
Just three minutes later, he combined with Alba again to set up Telasco Segovia for the 2-1, before the Venezuelan added another just before the break (45+3). In the second half, the 38-year-old Messi got on the scoresheet himself, first making it 4-1 after a pass from Sergio Busquets (60), then from a cross by Luis Suarez to make it 5-1 (83). These were Messi’s 17th and 18th goals of the season in his 18th MLS game.
This puts Messi level on the scoring charts with England’s Sam Surridge, who scored the only goal in Nashville SC’s 1-0 win over Toronto.
Close city derby in L.A.
Marco Reus and defending champions Los Angeles Galaxy salvaged a point in a close city derby with LAFC thanks to a late equalizer from former Schalke player Maya Yoshida (90+7) to make it 3-3 (1-2), but remain bottom of the Western Conference. Reus played the full 90 minutes and was involved in the goal that made it 2-3, scored by Gabriel Pec (79). 22,301 fans watched “El Trafico” at BMO Stadium.
