Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami on Saturday after missing a few games due to an injury. Messi had been out with an adductor strain after the team’s last match in March. He missed Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers during this time. However, Messi came on as a substitute in the 55th minute against the Philadelphia Union. Just two minutes later, he scored a brilliant goal.
He received a pass from his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, on the right side. Messi made a quick move, creating space for himself, and fired a low shot into the far corner of the net. His goal helped Inter Miami win 2-1.
The Game Overview
Inter Miami took the lead in the 23rd minute. Finnish winger Robert Taylor scored after a low pass from Benjamin Cremaschi, following a run down the left side by Jordi Alba. Philadelphia Union pulled one back in the 80th minute when Daniel Gazdag scored a well-hit shot after receiving a cross from Quinn Sullivan.
Inter Miami’s Strong Start
Inter Miami remain unbeaten at the top of the Eastern Conference with four wins from their first five games. Coach Javier Mascherano decided to bring Messi on as a substitute to avoid overworking him after his injury. He explained that the plan was for Messi to recover and travel to Los Angeles for their next match. Messi played 45 minutes, as he was not yet ready for the full game.
Upcoming Matches for Inter Miami
After their win, Inter Miami will face a busy schedule. They will travel to Los Angeles for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final on Wednesday. Following that, they have a home game against Toronto and a return match against LAFC just three days later.
A Thrilling Seven-Goal Game in Atlanta
In another exciting match, Atlanta United faced New York City FC in a seven-goal thriller. Atlanta was behind 3-1 after two goals from Wolff for NYCFC. But Atlanta quickly fought back with an own goal from Keaton Parks and a header from Miguel Almiron, who returned to the club this season.
Emmanuel Latte Lath, a recent signing from Middlesbrough, scored the winning goal in the 84th minute, making it 4-3 for Atlanta.
Other MLS Results
- Columbus Crew: Uruguayan Diego Rossi scored twice in their 2-1 win over DC United.
- Minnesota United: Canada’s Tani Oluwaseyi scored two goals in their 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake.
- New England Revolution: Carles Gil scored a last-minute penalty in their 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
The weekend saw exciting performances and important victories across Major League Soccer.
