Lionel Messi scored twice and secured Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer (MLS), this Saturday (18), in Denver.
In addition to the Argentine star, Germán Berterame also found the net for . Rafael Navarro, formerly of Botafogo, and Darren Yapi scored a goal each for Colorado.
The match was played in front of 75,824 people, the second largest attendance in MLS history.
How was the game
Miami opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a pass from Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio made a tough tackle and received a yellow card after a video review.
Messi took the resulting penalty and shot low into the middle of the goal, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Colorado had a good chance to score when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a first-time cover shot. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair raced well beyond the six-yard box to head the loose ball, but Frederick’s attempt went over the empty net.
In first-half stoppage time, Miami extended its lead to 2-0, after a sequence of passes in its attacking field. Messi started the play with a precise pass to Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul sent Mateo Silvetti towards the touchline. His inbound cross floated in front of the goal, where Berterame rose higher than the Colorado defense and headed the ball into the back of the net under the crossbar.
Navarro’s goal reduced Miami’s lead to 2-1. He started a run in midfield and, with a body dribble, received the free ball at the edge of the area and shot it into the goal, to the left of goalkeeper St. Clair, in the 58th minute.
In the 62nd minute, Yapi, who came on in the second half, received a direct pass from Lucas Herrington and fired a powerful shot, with no chance for St. Clair, scoring the equalizer.
scored the winning goal in the 79th minute. He started a run through midfield and advanced unmarked to the area, where he shot hard into the top left corner.
Miami secured the victory playing with a man down, as Bright was sent off after receiving a red card in the 87th minute.
