Lionel Messi scored four goals to lead Inter Miami to a 7-1 rout of CF Montreal during a Major League Soccer match at Nu Stadium, according to reports from outlets including CNN Indonesia, the Miami Herald, and Ntvnews.id. The performance pushed Messi’s season total to an MLS-leading 18 goals, overtaking Petar Musa of FC Dallas in the Golden Boot race, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Match Flow and Scoring Breakdown at Nu Stadium
Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Casemiro headed in a corner kick from Telasco Segovia, according to CNN Indonesia and the Miami Herald. The goal marked the first MLS tally for the 34-year-old Brazilian, who joined Inter Miami from Manchester United this summer after the World Cup, as noted by the Miami Herald. CF Montreal equalized in the 37th minute through Fabian Herbers, who converted an assist from Dawid Bugaj with a low shot that deflected off Yannick Bright, according to Ntvnews.id.
Messi responded before halftime by curling in a free kick in the 40th minute that deflected off Luca Petrasso to give Inter Miami a 2-1 lead, as detailed by Ntvnews.id and the Miami Herald. In the second half, Messi extended the advantage to 3-1 in the 52nd minute by dribbling through four defenders and shooting from close range, according to the Miami Herald. Luis Suarez made it 4-1 in the 80th minute after receiving a through ball from Messi, per CNN Indonesia and Ntvnews.id.
Messi Completes the Poker and Sets New Milestones
Messi secured his hat trick in the 83rd minute by chipping the ball over goalkeeper Thomas Gillier following a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, bringing the score to 5-1, according to Ntvnews.id. Eighteen-year-old substitute Alexander Shaw added a sixth goal for the hosts in the 89th minute with a right-footed shot from outside the box, per Ntvnews.id and the Miami Herald. In the sixth minute of added time, Messi capped the 7-1 victory by converting another free kick with his left foot, sealing what the Miami Herald describes as a “Poker”—referring to four goals in a single game.
According to the Miami Herald, it was the seventh time in Messi’s storied career that he scored four goals in a match and his first time doing so since Feb. 22, 2020 when he was with FC Barcelona. The 7-1 scoreline marks the most lopsided victory in Inter Miami history, snapping a five-game winless skid, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Did you know?
According to the Miami Herald, Inter Miami’s seven goals fell one goal short from tying the record for most goals scored by a team in an MLS match, a mark held by the Los Angeles Galaxy with an 8-1 win over the Burn in 1998.
Standings Context Following the Lopsided Win
With the three points secured at Nu Stadium, Inter Miami climbed to second place in the MLS standings, according to Ntvnews.id. The team now collects 42 points from 22 matches, tertinggal tujuh poin dari Nashville SC yang berada di puncak klasemen dengan 49 poin dari 21 laga, per Ntvnews.id.
“This was an important win, it is an honor to have Messi on the team, we have to use this as a springboard for the rest of the season,” Casemiro, who scored his first MLS goal, told Apple TV after the match, as cited by the Miami Herald. “This is what it means to have Messi on your team. He’s above every other footballer.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How many goals does Lionel Messi have in MLS this season?
According to the Miami Herald, Messi now has an MLS-leading 18 goals on the season following his four-goal performance against CF Montreal.
What is a “Poker” in soccer?
As reported by the Miami Herald, four goals are often referred to as a “Poker”, a reference to four-of-a-kind in the card game.
Where does Inter Miami rank in the MLS standings after this win?
According to Ntvnews.id, Inter Miami naik ke posisi kedua klasemen MLS dengan 42 poin dari 22 pertandingan.
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