Messi both scored and assisted in the 3-2 victory over Sporting KC, Inter Miami returned to the top of the Eastern rankings in the American Professional Soccer League (MLS).
After being eliminated by Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the North American Champions Cup, Inter Miami will be a guest of Sporting KC in round 8 of MLS 2024. Lionel Messi and his teammates have a chance to regain the top spot in the table in the context of NY Red Bulls just being held by Chicago. draw 0-0.
Sporting KC poured cold water on the away team, opening the score in the 6th minute. Tim Leibold stole the ball in the middle of the field and assisted Erik Thommy to shoot at an angle, beating goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Inter Miami responded with a 1-1 equalizer in the 18th minute. Lionel Messi threw a high-class pass for Diego Gomez to score into the home team’s net.
In the 51st minute, Lionel Messi personally scored to put Inter Miami ahead. The Argentinian superstar scored a superb long-range shot, sending the ball straight into the top corner.
However, the away team only maintained the lead for 7 minutes. Erik Thommy volleyed into a goal after a corner, equalizing the score 2-2 for Sporting KC.
The fate of the match was decided when the clock showed 71 minutes. Diego Gomez stole the ball on the left wing and crossed it for Luis Suarez to score into the empty net. Inter Miami won 3-2 against Sporting KC.
In the final minutes, the match was continuously interrupted because excited fans ran onto the field to approach Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba’s injury.
By defeating Sporting KC, Inter Miami ended a series of 5 consecutive matches without a victory in all competitions. Lionel Messi and his teammates also return to the MLS 2024 Eastern rankings.
Inter Miami currently has the same 15 points and more than the NY Red Bulls sub-index, but played 1 more match. In the next match, Inter Miami will return home to welcome Nashville.
