Messi back on target with a brilliant finish as Inter Miami crush Red Bulls
With a stunning finish, the Argentine magician finally found the back of the net, and Inter Miami returned to winning ways with a big victory.
New York Red Bulls might not be top of the table, but their defense is one of the best in the league. Before this match, they had conceded just 9 goals in 10 MLS games. But when Inter Miami turns on the heat, even the strongest defenses can collapse—and that’s exactly what happened in Miami. The Red Bulls conceded four goals, and Lionel Messi broke his mini goal drought in the process.
In a Major League Soccer clash on Sunday morning (Bangladesh time), Inter Miami thrashed the New York Red Bulls 4-1 on home turf. Fafà Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suárez, and Messi all found the net for Miami.
Before this match, Miami had been knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup after back-to-back losses to Vancouver. Sandwiched between those defeats was another setback in the MLS—a loss to FC Dallas, their first of the league season. But after three tough games, Miami finally returned to form with a convincing win.
Messi, too, ended a frustrating spell by scoring his first goal in four matches.
The home crowd didn’t have to wait long. In the 9th minute, Weigandt delivered a perfect cross from the right, and Haitian forward Picault slotted it in from inside the box.
In the 30th minute, the roles reversed. Picault whipped in a cross from the left, and Weigandt headed it toward goal. The Red Bulls keeper saved it but couldn’t secure the ball. Weigandt reacted quickly and tapped it in. Though the flag initially went up for offside, VAR confirmed it as a legitimate goal.
Miami added another before halftime. In the 39th minute, Messi played a smart pass from midfield to Ayende on the right wing. He cut into the box and squared it for Suárez. The Uruguayan’s initial shot was blocked by a defender, but he made no mistake with the rebound, smashing it in with his left foot.
The Red Bulls pulled one back before the break. In the 43rd minute, Mohamed Sofore’s header was slightly deflected into the net by Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The second half saw fewer attacks from both sides, but Messi had one more moment of brilliance in store. In the 66th minute, he played a beautiful one-two with Telasco Segovia, maneuvered past a tight defender inside the box, and hammered home a left-footed volley to seal the victory.
With this win, Inter Miami now sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 10 matches. Columbus Crew lead the standings with 24 points from 11 games.
