Messi volleys Inter Miami into Leagues Cup last 16 with two goals
against Orlando
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[August 03, 2023]
(Reuters) - Lionel Messi scored in his third consecutive match
for Inter Miami in a 3-1 victory over Orlando City on Wednesday as his
Major League Soccer team moved into the final 16 of the Leagues Cup. |
Aug 2, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Inter
Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a goal
against Orlando City SC during the first half at DRV PNK Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports |
Kickoff was delayed by 95 minutes because of a
thunderstorm, but once the match got under way, Messi took
little time to settle down and opened the scoring in the seventh
minute.
The Argentine began his move at the half line and made a run
into the box as Robert Taylor chipped the ball over several
defenders. Messi then chested down the ball and volleyed home
from the edge of the six-yard box.
Orlando equalised 10 minutes later when Uruguayan midfielder
Cesar Araujo pounced on a loose ball off a corner and fired it
home, but Miami restored their advantage three minutes into the
second half when Josef Martinez scored from the penalty spot.
Taylor and Martinez then combined in the 72nd minute on a
counter-attack to set up Messi for another close-range volley
and the unmarked Argentine made no mistake to beat Pedro Gallese
in Orlando's goal.
It was Messi's fifth goal in three games, after he scored
against Cruz Azul and Atlanta United in the group stage of the
tournament.
Araujo thought he had pulled one back for Orlando in the ninth
minute of injury time with a tap-in at the far post but the goal
was ruled out by video-assisted review for being offside.
Miami will next face FC Dallas, who beat Mexican side Mazatlan
2-1.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
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