Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi gifted the club’s new coach a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids with a brace including a spectacular late winner in front of 75,000 Major League Soccer (MLS) fans on Saturday.
Shifted to Denver’s giant NFL stadium to accommodate the huge demand to see Argentina’s World Cup-winning icon, the game appeared to be drifting Colorado’s way after a spirited home team fightback from 2-0 down.
But Messi, having already converted a penalty, had other ideas. With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Argentine sprinted onto a through ball sent down the right by Rodrigo De Paul.
He dribbled into the box and somehow threaded a shot with his favourite left foot through three defenders and past the keeper into the corner.
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It handed Messi’s longtime friend Guillermo Hoyos a win on his debut as Miami coach, after Javier Mascherano departed the club for “personal reasons” on Tuesday, just four months after guiding the club to its first MLS Cup title.
“We have the greatest player in history, someone who completely shifts the momentum of matches,” said a delighted Hoyos.
Hoyos, 62, made few changes to the lineup, notably bringing in German Berterame to replace Tadeo Allende, who continues to recover from a muscle injury.
The win sends Inter Miami up to second place in the Eastern Conference.
“This continues the work we’ve been doing and the progress the team has been making – the team is the reigning MLS champion. We are a solid unit,” said Hoyos.
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