Lionel Messi scored the winning goal for Inter Miami as they bounced back from their CONCACAF Champions Cup defeat to the New York Red Bulls 4-1 at Chase Stadium in Florida.
Miami’s last three games were a 5-1 aggregate loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Champions Cup semifinals, but they did so with a consoling Major League Soccer (MLS) victory at home on Saturday.
In the ninth minute, Fafa Picault powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net after Marcelo Weigandt had headed in a cross from Luis Suarez.
When Carlos Coronel parried Weigandt’s diving header in the 30th minute, the Argentinian followed in and scooped the ball home, helping Miami double.
After a VAR review, the referee decided the goal should remain in place despite initial offside concerns.
Suarez scored the winning goal at the second attempt nine minutes later after the Red Bulls had blocked his first shot before the break, but the Red Bulls then pulled one back.
To give the visitors some hope for the second half, Oscar Ustari was looped over an Omar Valencia corner that was deep to the back post.
However, Miami held on to the lead and Messi extended that advantage by scoring from the left-foot finish and beating Coronel in the 67th minute.
The victory moved Miami up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference after a four-game losing streak with the goal.
In another game, former Saint-Etienne midfielder Dylan Chambost scored the first goal in the team’s 4-2 victory over Charlotte, opening his MLS account.
The Crew, who defeated Montreal 2-1 to extend their excellent season, are now in the East with 24 points, two ahead of the Philadelphia Union, who scored the winner in the 84th minute with a goal scored in the opening half.
Christian Benteke and Hosei Kijima both scored goals as DC United won the game 2-1 over Colorado Rapids.
Source: Aljazeera
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