Inter Miami is back on track with a rout—driven by Lionel Messi. Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski also found the back of the net in the MLS match.
Thanks to an outstanding performance by Lionel Messi, Inter Miami has ended its slump in the MLS. The Argentine scored four goals in the 7-1 win over CF Montreal, leading the defending champions to their first victory after five consecutive losses. In the first game under new head coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez, Miami solidified its second-place position in the Eastern Conference, trailing leader Nashville by ten points.
Brazilian national team player Casemiro headed his team into the lead in the 20th minute. Montreal managed to equalize temporarily through former Münster player Fabian Herbers (37th minute), but Messi restored the previous lead with a free kick shortly before halftime (40th minute).
Free kick in stoppage time seals the deal
After the break, the 39-year-old really turned it on. Messi made it 3–1 with a solo effort (52′), then set up the goal for his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez (80′), and still wasn’t done in the closing minutes. Following an assist from Rodrigo De Paul, he scored to make it 5–1 (82′), before substitute Alex Shaw netted the sixth goal (89′). In stoppage time, Messi put the finishing touch on the game with another direct free kick. The Argentine now has 18 goals this season and leads the MLS scoring race.
Miami had lost four of its previous five matches since play resumed following the World Cup. Against the second-to-last team in the Eastern Conference, the team finally managed the much-hoped-for return to winning ways.
Müller Paves the Way, Lewandowski Secures a Point
Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps were also successful. The Canadians won 3-0 at Sporting Kansas City. Müller laid the foundation for the victory by converting a penalty kick to make it 1-0 (40th minute). In the second half, he set up another goal to make it a 3-0 final score. With this win, the Whitecaps continue to lead the Western Conference ahead of the Houston Dynamo.
Robert Lewandowski scored the equalizer in the Chicago Fire’s 2-2 draw in Seattle; former Frankfurt player Dejan Joveljic scored both goals for the Sounders.
Another former Bayern Munich pro found the back of the net: Substitute Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting was the only goal-scorer for the home team from the Big Apple in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-3 loss to the Philadelphia Union, which featured Kai Wagner.
Former national team player Marco Reus and the Los Angeles Galaxy lost 1–3 in San Diego. New signing Antoine Griezmann scored his fourth MLS goal in his seventh appearance during Orlando City’s 3–3 draw at Minnesota United.
