Lionel Messi continued his scoring streak in Inte Miami, netting two goals for the third consecutive game, propelling Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Orlando City in the Leagues Cup’s Round of 32.
Early in the game, Robert Taylor made a remarkable move down the left flank, cutting inside before entering the penalty area. His brilliant pass found Messi completely unmarked at the penalty spot. Messi then skillfully controlled the ball with his chest before swiftly driving it past Peruvian goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, scoring the opener in the 7th minute.
Orlando City quickly responded, pressuring their rivals and equalizing in the 17th minute. Colombian Ivan Angulo made an impressive solo run into the box, forcing a tough save from Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Drake Callender. The rebound fell to Uruguayan Cesar Araujo, who struck the ball home.
A Heated Encounter and a Strong Finish
Messi was at the centre of several confrontations in a tense first half. He received a yellow card in the 21st minute for tripping Wilder Cartagena when off the ball. Despite this setback, Inter Miami managed to control the game with 74% ball possession and created several scoring opportunities.
Early into the second half, a debatable foul on Josef Martinez in the penalty box led to a penalty kick for Inter Miami. In a surprising move, Messi, the usual penalty taker, passed the responsibility to Martinez, who made no mistake, sending Gallese the wrong way to put Inter Miami ahead.
The game was effectively sealed in the 72nd minute when Messi, combined with Martinez, scored his second goal. Martinez brought down a cross from Taylor in the box and laid it off to Messi, who completed his brace.
An injury-time goal by Araujo for Orlando City was ruled out following a VAR review for offside. Thus, Inter Miami maintained their perfect record in the Leagues Cup, with three wins from three games. Next, they face FC Dallas in the Round of 16 in Frisco, Texas. This match will mark Messi’s first away game with Inter Miami.
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphotonews.com.pk%2Fmessi-shines-in-first-clasico-with-inter-miami-scores-brace-against-orlando-city%2F&media=https://photonews.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/maxresdefault-jpg.webp&description=In his first "clasico" with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi continued his goal-scoring form, netting a brace against Orlando City in the Leagues Cup's Round of 32. The football legend drove his team to a 3-1 victory, extending Inter Miami's perfect record in the Leagues Cup.){kind=link}