Inter Miami vs. Orlando City Highlights : Lionel Messi scores twice, takes 3-1 lead in Leagues Cup match
Lionel Messi isn’t slowing down.
Messi’s dominance in Major League Soccer continued once again on Wednesday night. Just seven minutes into Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Orlando City SC, Messi picked up his fourth goal with the club. He added another late in the second half, too.
After a roughly 90 minute rain delay at DVR PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Messi got Miami on the board almost instantly. In the seventh minute of the match, Messi caught what was an absolute dime from Robert Taylor in the center of the box. He tapped the ball once with his chest before easily finding the back of the net for the fourth time in an Inter Miami jersey.
That man Messi 🔥
Robert Taylor drops a dime to Messi for the #InterMiamiCF goal. pic.twitter.com/KH8bMykPd4
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
While Messi’s goal was impressive, the lead didn’t last long. Orlando’s César Araújo scored the equalizer off a deflection in the box in the 16th minute.
Messi picked up his first yellow card with Miami a few minutes later after tackling Wilder Cartagena, too.
Messi just barely missed a shot on goal later in the first half, and he had a free kick denied by Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese just before things got tense between the two clubs right before halftime. The half ended tied up 1-1.
Miami scored just minutes into the second half after Antônio Carlos fouled Josef Martínez inside the box. Martínez took the penalty kick and drilled it perfectly, which put Miami back up 2-1.
Josef Martinez buries it 👑@InterMiamiCF takes a 2-1 lead over Orlando City. #LeaguesCup2023 pic.twitter.com/EwXVXqQwVT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
Messi then scored again in the 71st minute, which all but sealed the win for Miami. Taylor dropped another perfect pass into the middle to Martínez, who tapped it up to Messi instantly for the goal.
ANOTHER MESSI BRACE ✔️
Messi makes it a 3-1 lead for #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/8abWvRIeHj
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2023
The goal was Messi’s fifth since joining Miami less than a month ago. He scored a game-winner in stoppage time against Cruz Azul in his debut with the club in their first Leagues Cup game, and then scored twice in just 22 minutes against Atlanta United last week. He is the top goalscorer in the Leagues Cup.
Those two wins got Miami into the knockout round of the Leagues Cup, which set up their match on Wednesday against Orlando.
Orlando City reached the knockout stage after beating the Houston Dynamo on penalty kicks and then beating Santos Laguna. The winner of Wednesday’s match will move on to the Round of 16, where they will take on either FC Dallas or Mazatlán FC. Their Leagues Cup match is set for Wednesday night, too.
Keep up with all of the Inter Miami-Orlando City action here with Yahoo Sports:
