Lionel Messi inspires Inter Miami comeback victory over Los Angeles Galaxy with goal and assist
Lionel Messi made a triumphant return from injury on Saturday night, contributing a crucial goal and assist as Inter Miami secured a vital 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy at home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Argentine superstar's second-half introduction proved decisive in what became a statement win for the hosts.
Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba complemented Messi's heroics with goals of their own, helping Inter Miami (13-5-6, 45 points) recover from their disappointing 4-1 defeat to Orlando City SC the previous Sunday. The three points proved essential for Miami's pursuit of the Supporter's Shield as they continue their strong regular season campaign.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had been sidelined for three consecutive matches across all competitions due to a thigh injury but was deemed ready to impact the game as a substitute. Head coach Gerardo Martino opted to start Messi on the bench before introducing him for the second half.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 entering the final stages, Messi produced one of his trademark moments of brilliance in the 84th minute. Receiving possession at the edge of the penalty area, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star demonstrated why he remains one of the world's elite players.
Messi skillfully maneuvered past Galaxy defender Lucas Sanabria before beating another opponent with his close control. The 37-year-old then unleashed a precise strike from distance that found its way past Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic to restore Miami's advantage.
The magic continued just five minutes later when Messi turned provider with an exquisite piece of skill. His perfectly weighted back-heel pass found Suarez in a dangerous position, and the Uruguayan striker made no mistake with his finish to seal the victory. The goal marked Suarez's first strike from open play in nine matches across all competitions and his sixth league goal of the current campaign.
For the struggling Galaxy (3-16-7, 16 points), the defeat extended their winless streak in MLS play to four matches. The Los Angeles-based club continues to endure a challenging season following their MLS Cup triumph last year, though they will have an opportunity to salvage something from their campaign when they face Mexican side Pachuca in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Despite Messi's eventual impact, the Galaxy showed considerable resilience and nearly secured a valuable point on the road. Joseph Paintsil provided the visitors with hope when he found the equalizer in the 59th minute through his own moment of individual brilliance.
Paintsil demonstrated excellent dribbling skills to beat two Inter Miami defenders before unleashing a shot that deflected off goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and crossed the goal line. The goal temporarily silenced the home crowd and set up a tense finale.
However, Messi responded in characteristic fashion, scoring what proved to be his MLS-leading 19th goal of the season to restore Miami's lead and ultimately secure all three points for his team.
The statistics highlighted Inter Miami's dominance throughout the encounter, with the hosts registering 28 shots compared to the Galaxy's five, while also holding an 8-3 advantage in shots on target. Despite this overwhelming territorial advantage, Miami struggled to convert their chances for much of the contest.
Jordi Alba had broken the deadlock in the 43rd minute, capitalizing on excellent creative work from Sergio Busquets, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball for the Spanish fullback to finish. Earlier in the match, Suarez came close to opening the scoring when his effort struck the post, while Miami also had a goal from Telasco Segovia ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
SportsLigue