Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami beat FC Dallas to advance to the next stage of the Leagues Cup. The team owned by David Beckham overcame a 4-2 deficit to take the match to penalties. The 18-year-old midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi scored the winner from the spot and helped Inter Miami qualify for the next round.
Without a doubt that Lionel Messi’s debut has set the world of soccer on fire. The Argentinian forward has had an incredible start to life in the United States of America. With four victories in four matches in the Leagues Cup, Messi has led Inter Miami to the competition’s round of 16 bracket.
The match against FC Dallas was possibly the biggest challenge Inter Miami has faced after the arrival of Lionel Messi. The match started with Messi scoring a curler at the near post to give him the lead, but FC Dallas fought back. Facundo QuignĆ³n equalized for FC Dallas and Bernand Kamungo gave them the lead at the stroke of half-time.
Alan Velasco scored the third goal for Dallas before Inter Miami reduced the deficit by one when the local boy from Miami Cremaschi tapped in from close range. In the next ten minutes, the match swung with two own goals, one for each side.
LIONEL MESSI IS NOT REAL š±š±
HE DOES IT AGAIN. 85TH MINUTE EQUALISER WITH A FREE KICK š„š„š„ #InterMiamiCF #LionelMessi pic.twitter.com/Ntgx6ycZK8
ā Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) August 7, 2023
However after the series of own goals, Inter Miami were trailing the game 4-3, and in the 85th minute, they got a free kick from striking distance. What followed was something special. Messi found the back of the net with ease. A spectacular free-kick and an equalizer led the game to shootouts.
Inter Miami emerged victorious after converting all their five penalties, while Paxton Pomykal missed the second spot-kick for FC Dallas. Shortly after the match, Lionel Messi spoke about the match against Dallas on his social media.
The former Barcelona player said ” We fought until the last moment and at the end we got another win!! One more step… ššš¼ Thanks to all the people in Dallas for the love. ”
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In the explicitly balanced match, Messi highlighted the team’s fighting spirit and thanked the Dallas fans. It was a thriller and was complemented by an amazing atmosphere.
How has Lionel Messi impacted Inter Miami?
After spending two years with the French Champions PSG, Messi decided not to extend his contract. Evidently, after his exit from Paris, it looked like a return to Barcelona was on the cards, but he chose Miami.
Messi has not yet played in a league game for Inter Miami, who are now last in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. He arrived before the Leagues Cup began and got off to a good start with four wins in a row.
In the four games, he has played for the American club. He has scored 7 goals, and that makes him the fourth joint all-time scorer of the club.
Lionel Messi is now Inter Miami’s joint-4th all-time top scorer after playing just four games for the club ā½ pic.twitter.com/76GGweIQTm
ā ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 7, 2023
Lionel Messi has always been a record-breaker and a trendsetter. It will be amazing to see if he can lead Inter Miami to their first-ever piece of silverware. Inter Miami face Charlotte in the quarter-finals on Friday, do you think Messi will be key again?