FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Buoyed by the return of Lionel Messi, Inter Miami defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Saturday night in Florida.
The Argentine star player and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored two goals and an assist, had not played with Inter Miami since June 1st due to obligations with the national team and an injury to the right ankle sustained in a 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14th.
“A little tired from the heat and humidity in Miami, but I was so eager to come back after such a long time away,” Messi said in Spanish on the Apple TV broadcast after the match. “I started training with the group and started to feel better.”
Messi, who returned to training three weeks ago, showed no signs of rust or injury during his appearance, scoring twice in a four-minute span midway through the first half to cancel out an early Philadelphia goal.
“What he did was more typical than other things that happened tonight,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said in Spanish. “I’m happy he finished the game and completed the 90 minutes. He felt good.”
Without Messi, Miami went 8-2 and earned an MLS playoff spot. Miami (19-4-5) also took the lead in the Supporters Shield table with 62 points.
“It’s nice to see that his injury has healed and that he is as effective as before,” said Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel.
Luis Suárez had one assist and sealed Miami’s victory with a goal off Messi’s assist in second-half injury time. It was Suárez’s 17th goal of the season.
Messi’s first goal in the 26th minute made it 1-1, with Suárez sending a short pass near the wide area where Messi picked up the ball, rounded Union defender Kai Wagner in the penalty area and fired a shot inside the left post.
Four minutes later, Messi received a cross into the penalty area and passed Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick with a shot from 15 yards.
Suárez saw a goal of his own cancelled out in the 44th minute after a video review determined it had been offside.
“As the game went on, we risked not controlling the ball,” Martino said. “From the last 30 minutes of the first half, we managed to control the ball better.”
Messi’s repaired ankle caught a kick from Philadelphia midfielder Quinn Sullivan in the 67th minute as the two fought over a loose ball. Messi fell to the ground, favoring his ankle, but quickly got up and continued play. Referee Sergii Boiko gave Sullivan and Martino yellow cards, calling for a harder foul on Sullivan.
Looking for an equalizer, Philadelphia (7-12-9) applied repeated pressure throughout the second half until Messi centered a pass to Suárez and converted it from 18 yards.
Before his absence, the 37-year-old Messi had scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 12 league games this season.
The fans had barely calmed down when Union striker Mikael Uhre surprised the home crowd with a goal two minutes into the match.
Messi got his first chance in the seventh minute with a free kick near the centre circle, which was blocked by a wall of Philadelphia defenders.
For Inter Miami, the victory came at a price. Defender David Martinez left the field early in the first half with a groin injury and his replacement Noah Allen was also substituted after what Martino called a blow to the head.
“We have to take it day by day and see how they recover and how they feel,” Martino said.
Both clubs continue their competition with away games on Wednesdays. Inter Miami visits Atlanta on Tuesday, while Union visits New York City FC on Tuesday.
