Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami defeats Orlando City in the League Cup.
Lionel Messi continues to score frequently while adjusting to a new squad.
Messi
scored for the third time in three games and had his second consecutive
multi-goal outing for Inter Miami in a 3-1 win over Orlando City on
Wednesday night.
"Something I said early on when we started, with
him, the most difficult things have become easier," Inter Miami coach
Tata Martino explained. "However, we're talking about a player who
scores 40 goals per season at the highest level of competition."
Thunderstorms caused a 95-minute delay in the League Cup Round of 32 match.
Messi
scored seven minutes into the game, then added another in the 72nd.
Since his highly anticipated MLS debut on July 21, the seven-time Ballon
d'Or winner has five goals in three games.
While eluding the
Orlando City defence, Messi intercepted a ball from Robert Taylor on his
chest, dribbled a few yards into the 6-yard box, and completed a shot
that dropped under the crossbar.
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead on the goal, but Orlando equalised 11 minutes later.
Messi
scored again, this time off a centering pass from Josef Martinez,
flicking a right-footed drive inside the left post to put Inter Miami up
3-1.
"It is not illogical to think that he has scored five goals
in three matches," Martino stated. "Sometimes I think we overdo it with
the adjectives." It all boils down to who is the finest player in the
world."
Martino was also keen to point out that Messi's second
strike on Wednesday came from his right foot, rather than his famed left
foot, which has scored from all angles in various scenarios.
"He's
been doing the same thing for 17-18 years," Martino explained. "He
stated that he came here to compete and win. He is carrying out his
promise."
Inter Miami advances to the tournament's Round of 16 against Dallas FC.
Inter
Miami was also given a fright early in the second half when Mauricio
Pereyra of Orlando clashed with Messi. Messi stayed on the ground for a
few minutes, favouring his jaw.
Messi drew his first yellow card with Inter Miami in the 21st minute for a heavy foul.
Jordi Alba, a former Barcelona colleague of Messi's, made his Inter Miami debut in the 64th minute.
The game was supposed to start at 8 p.m., but it didn't due of the weather.
Messi
and his Inter Miami colleagues warmed up on the DRV PNK Stadium pitch
45 minutes before kickoff. The torrential rains started around 20
minutes later.
Messi and his teammates returned for a second set
of pre-game warm-ups after the stadium personnel drained water puddles
near midfield.
Messi has not faced bad weather in his first two
League Cup games since joining the MLS team. He scored the game-winning
goal against Cruz Azul and added two more against Atlanta United.
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