Lionel Messi delivered a standout performance with two goals and an assist, powering Inter Miami CF to a thrilling 3-2 victory over D.C. United at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The win marks Inter Miami’s second straight triumph in Major League Soccer action.
Tadeo Allende added the team’s other goal, helping seal the hard-fought home win on September 21.
Messi’s magic night boosted his impressive MLS stats. With these two goals and the assist, he notched his 16th game featuring at least one goal and one assist in his first three seasons—tying Carlos Vela for second place behind only Preki’s 17.
The first half stayed tight, with both teams trading chances. Then, in the 35th minute, Allende broke the deadlock. Messi threaded a perfect pass through the defense, setting Allende up one-on-one with the keeper. Allende coolly slotted it into the bottom right corner for his eighth goal of the regular season. That assist was Messi’s league-leading 12th for Inter Miami this year.
D.C. United fought back quickly after the break. Christian Benteke evened the score in the 53rd minute, putting the pressure on the home side.
Inter Miami pushed hard to regain control. Messi nearly did it himself in the 55th minute, smashing a shot off the crossbar from inside the box. Moments later, in the 59th, Allende’s close-range effort drew a big save from the D.C. keeper.
Messi wasn’t denied for long. In the 66th minute, Jordi Alba picked him out on the right side of the box. Messi spun quickly and fired a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner, restoring Inter Miami’s lead. That made it Messi’s 21st goal of the season, while Alba earned his 10th assist.
The drama continued in the 72nd minute when Inter Miami won a penalty. But the spot-kick rattled the crossbar and stayed out, keeping the score at 2-1.
Messi sealed his brace—and the game—in the 85th minute. Sergio Busquets fed him at the top of the box, and Messi curled a left-footed shot into the upper left corner for a 3-1 cushion. Now with 22 regular-season goals, Messi leads the charge for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi. Busquets picked up his seventh assist of the year.
D.C. United grabbed a late consolation in the seventh minute of stoppage time, as Jacob Murrell found the net to make it 3-2. But Inter Miami held firm through the final whistle, grabbing all three points in this MLS showdown.
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