Within a mere month of joining Inter Miami, the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has already propelled his team to unprecedented heights.
Following a resounding 4-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday, Miami has secured a spot in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup final, positioning the club to potentially capture its inaugural trophy in its four seasons of competition.
Messi’s contribution against Philadelphia marked his ninth goal in merely six games since his arrival at Inter. His scoring spree has been unbroken in each of his half-dozen matches, enabling him to claim the top spot on the Leagues Cup scoring chart.
Merely a few weeks into his tenure at Inter Miami, Messi has already ascended to the third spot on the club’s all-time scoring record, trailing the leader, his compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, by a mere 20 goals.
After Josef Martinez initiated the scoring for Miami, Messi showcased his prowess in the 20th minute with a powerful strike from beyond 30 yards. The ball eluded the outstretched reach of Union’s goalkeeper Andre Blake, ricocheting off the right post into the net.
Jordi Alba, an experienced Spanish player, bolstered Miami’s lead with a third goal just before the first half concluded – a remarkable achievement in his fourth appearance since recently joining Inter. Philadelphia managed to pull one back with a goal from Alejandro Bedoya, narrowing the gap 17 minutes before the end.
Any hopes of a late Union resurgence were extinguished by David Ruiz, who secured a fourth goal for Miami after 84 minutes.
In the other Leagues Cup semifinal held on Tuesday, Nashville SC secured a 2-0 victory against Monterrey, securing a spot in the final against Miami.
The ultimate victor will be determined when the two squads clash on August 19 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Leagues Cup, an annual tournament pitting teams from MLS against those from Mexico’s Liga MX, was expanded this year to encompass all the teams from both leagues.
