Five goals in three games - Lionel Messi has hit the ground running at Inter Miami CF to devastating effect, and he’s showing no signs of letting up.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s magic was on display again on Wednesday night as his new team saw off cross-state rivals **Orlando City SC** in the Leagues Cup 2023 Round of 32 with a 3-1 win.
Messi himself would open the scoring early on with a close-range finish from a pass over the top by Robert Taylor. After leaving Josef Martínez to score the penalty for the hosts’ second, the veteran then found the net again 20 minutes from time, this time assisted by the Venezuelan forward. The team would eventually run out 3-1 winners.
The Argentine’s transformative impact has been clear in the team’s results alone. Despite sitting bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference table so far this season, Inter Miami have emerged as one of the favourites to go all the way at Leagues Cup after three wins in as many fixtures.
Next up for the Florida outfit will be a trip to face FC Dallas, who advanced past Mazatlán FC in their own Round of 32 showdown. The Toros beat their LIGA MX opponents 2-1, thanks to a strike from the spot from Alan Velasco and a winning goal from Eugene Ansah. It was their second win in this summer’s competition, after seeing off Club Necaxa 3-0 in the group stages.
As a result, next week will see Messi’s first away match as an Inter Miami CF player. He’ll be facing two compatriots in midfielders Alan Velasco as well as Facundo Quignón - the latter having even played for Newell’s Old Boys, the World Cup winning-captain’s boyhood team.
Having stolen the show in front of his new fans at DRV PNK Stadium in the last two weeks, Messi will now be looking to keep those high standards as he takes his talents to Texas. The Leagues Cup trophy is now just four wins away.
