Inter Miami defeated Cincinnati 3-5 on Wednesday with a Lionel Messi brace in a match in which ‘The Herons’ took an early lead but had to mount a second-half comeback.
The win puts Inter Miami second in the East with 25 points, albeit a game ahead of Nashville, the leader with 27.
An epic comeback
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The men coached by Argentine Guillermo Hoyos took the lead in the 24th minute with Messi’s first goal.
Who put his leg on a clearance inside the box by center back Matt Miazga, the rebound of which ended up in the back of the Cincinnati goal.
The home side equalized just before halftime with a penalty kick from Gonzalo Luján, which was converted by Togolese striker Kévin Denkey.
After coming back from the locker room, Cincinnati surprised Inter Miami with a goal by Czech Pavel Bucha in the 49th minute.
But six minutes later Messi made it 2-2.
Brazil’s Evander put Cincinnati back in front with a stunning strike from just outside the box, unmarked by Inter defenders.
But just as Cincinnati began to dream of victory, Messi and company responded with a gale.
Three goals in ten minutes between 79 and 89 minutes to take the win (Filed under: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami comeback).
Inter Miami moves closer to the lead
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Mateo Silvetti, from Rosario, made it 3-3 and Germán Berterame, who is also Argentine but a naturalized Mexican citizen, put Las Garzas ahead.
This after taking advantage of a lethal error by Cincinnati on a Messi cross from a free kick.
The goalkeeper, Roman Celentano, came out to catch the ball but collided with his center back Andrei Chirila, who was looking to clear it.
Leaving the ball dead in the area for Berterame to finish off at his leisure.
Comeback in the second half
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Celentano was again the protagonist in the fifth goal, the result of a shot by Messi that hit the post and ended up entering the goal after bouncing off the goalkeeper.
With his brace in Cincinnati, Messi has eleven goals so far this season.
One behind the top scorer, Belgian Hugo Cuypers, of the Chicago Fire (Filed under: Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami comeback).
With information from EFE
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