Lionel Messi found the back of the net just seven minutes into the match and then followed up with another impressive goal in the 72nd minute for Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi continued his impressive form with Inter Miami, scoring in his third consecutive game and securing another multi-goal performance. However, the Leagues Cup contest against Orlando City on Wednesday night faced a delay of 95 minutes due to thunderstorms.
In the match, Messi wasted no time, netting a goal just seven minutes in. He skillfully controlled a pass from Robert Taylor on his chest, dribbled near the six-yard box, and confidently converted the shot, finding the back of the net under the crossbar, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the Round of 32 match. Orlando City managed to equalize 11 minutes later.
Nevertheless, Messi wasn’t done yet. In the 72nd minute, he received a precise centering pass from Josef Martinez and struck a right-footed shot that nestled inside the left post, putting Inter Miami ahead 3-1.
During the game, there was a moment of concern when Orlando’s Mauricio Pereyra collided with Messi in the early second half, leaving him on the ground and holding his jaw for a brief period.
In a noteworthy occurrence, Messi received his first yellow card with Inter Miami for a hard foul in the 21st minute.
The scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff was delayed due to the storms, and after necessary preparations, the match eventually began. Messi and his teammates were on the pitch for warm-ups 45 minutes before the scheduled start, but heavy rain started approximately 20 minutes later. Following the water drainage around the midfield area, the teams returned for a second round of pre-game warm-ups.
Despite the challenging weather conditions, Messi has been thriving in his first two Leagues Cup matches with Inter Miami, scoring the game-winning goal against Cruz Azul and adding two more goals in a victory over Atlanta United.
Furthermore, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Jordi Alba, also made his debut for Inter Miami, adding to the excitement surrounding the team.