Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the greatest players in the history of soccer, has been unstoppable since joining Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup. He scored his eighth goal in five games and helped his team crush Charlotte 4-0 on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami dominates possession and creates chances
Inter Miami controlled the game from the start, with 62.2% possession and 702 passes, compared to Charlotte’s 413. They also had 18 shots, nine of them on target, while Charlotte only managed four shots, one of them on target.
Messi’s magic leads Inter Miami to Leagues Cup semifinals
The hosts opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when Josef Martínez converted a penalty kick after he was fouled by Charlotte defender Matt Hedges. Martínez has been Messi’s partner in crime, scoring six goals and providing four assists in the Leagues Cup.
Taylor and Yedlin shine on the right flank
Inter Miami doubled their lead in the 32nd minute, thanks to a brilliant combination between Robert Taylor and DeAndre Yedlin on the right wing. Taylor received a pass from Yedlin and cut inside before curling a left-footed shot into the far corner of the net. It was Taylor’s fourth goal in the tournament, making him the joint top scorer with Messi and Martínez.
Yedlin, who joined Inter Miami from Newcastle United in January, has been a key player for Tata Martino’s side. He has provided five assists and two goals in the Leagues Cup, as well as solid defensive work. He was named the man of the match against Charlotte.
Charlotte’s own goal seals their fate
Charlotte, who had qualified for the Leagues Cup as an expansion team in MLS, tried to fight back in the second half, but they could not find a way past Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Drake Callender, who made his first save in the 67th minute.
Inter Miami put the game beyond doubt in the 78th minute, when Charlotte defender Walker Zimmerman scored an own goal after a cross from Lewis Morgan. It was a cruel blow for Zimmerman, who had been one of Charlotte’s best players in their debut season.
Messi adds another goal to his tally
Messi, who had been relatively quiet for most of the game, showed his class in the 88th minute, when he scored Inter Miami’s fourth goal with a trademark free kick from 25 yards out. He curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Charlotte’s goalkeeper Brad Guzan with no chance.
It was Messi’s eighth goal in five games, and his third from a free kick. He has also provided three assists and created countless chances for his teammates. He has been a joy to watch for Inter Miami’s fans, who have seen their team score 17 goals in five games since signing him.
Inter Miami advances to semifinals
With this win, Inter Miami advanced to the semifinals of the Leagues Cup, where they will face either Philadelphia Union or Querétaro. The other semifinal will be between Seattle Sounders and Monterrey.
The Leagues Cup is a tournament that features eight teams from MLS and eight teams from Liga MX. It started in 2019 as a way to increase the rivalry and competition between the two leagues. The winner of the tournament qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League.
Inter Miami entered the Leagues Cup with an MLS-worst record of 5-3-14, but they have turned their season around since adding Messi. They have won all five of their games in the tournament, beating Puebla, Cruz Azul, FC Dallas and Charlotte by a combined score of 17-5.
They are now one of the favorites to win the trophy and make history as the first MLS team to do so. They will also hope to improve their league form and climb up the standings.