:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/R5EN22JJ6JFMLPWSEWB5T6SOXI.jpg "Great assist, almost Olympic goal and an incredible self-pass: Lionel Messi’s match for Inter Miami against Real Salt Lake")
Lionel Messi made a great pass to assist Robert Taylor, who immediately opened the scoring for Inter Miami over Real Salt Lake
Lionel Messi was once again the leading figure in Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in the first match of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The Argentine star was very active and participated in most of his team’s attacks. It was the key to breaking zero and in his left-handed glove was the chance for the Florida franchise to take advantage.
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But it was difficult for Las Garzas to overcome the Utah team. The search for the locals was from the beginning and Messi himself reversed roles with his friend Luis Suárez, who assisted him in the initial warning in the offensive.
Leo did not stop running on the front of the attack, either pulling back, generating the game or putting pressure on the rival’s exit. In his interventions he gave away some chiche like a pipe or also created danger by combining with Suárez himself.
Messi’s two scoring chances in Inter Miami-Real Salt Lake
The first danger he had was in the 16th minute with a mid-distance free kick that Justen Glad cleared off the line. The ball went to the corner kick and in the execution La Pulga almost scored an Olympic goal.
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Leo was so involved that he got angry with Julian Gressel because he didn’t give him the pass when he found himself alone to be able to finish on goal. His play also continued to be compelling with the ball stopped to the point that he almost achieved a remake of his Barcelona days with Jordi Alba, when after a corner kick he assisted the Spaniard who hit him first on the edge of the area and shot it he passed by.
Until in the 38th minute, Messi received from another former Barca player, Sergio Busquets, and gave a perfect goal pass to Robert Taylor who with a half turn opened the scoring.
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Before going to rest, Messi’s skill again appeared to the point of dribbling at an opponent who was lying on the floor suffering from a blow. La Pulga eluded him with an incredible self-pass to surpass his opponent and causing a standing ovation in the stadium.
Self-pass with a rival on the floor: Messi’s incredible play against Inter Miami
In the complement Leo continued doing his thing. Inter Miami made mistakes and lost the ball, which led to Real Salt Lake’s attack, which left spaces and Messi once again lost his balance. In one he made a run from almost the middle of the field, he made his typical hooks and opened the game to the left.
Leo asked for them all and motivated his teammates to be able to recover the ball and control the match again. Another example was when he received a pass from Busquets and scored a left footed shot that was deflected with his hand by a rival. It was a clear penalty, but the play was invalidated due to a previous advanced position by the Spanish midfielder.
After taking a break, in the 83rd minute Messi was once again lethal with his presence. He received the ball from Paraguayan Diego Gómez, faced towards the area, unloaded with Suárez who assisted Gómez himself who defined a cross to settle the dispute.
Inter Miami’s second goal after a great assist from Lucho Suárez
In the end Leo combined with Suárez who was returned to him and made a hit inside the area that dislocated his marker and after his shot the goalkeeper Zac MacMath drowned out his scream.
Messi arrived in the middle of last year and this is the first full season in North America. In the United States he has already won a title and it was in the Leagues Cup, the tournament that combined the MLS and Liga México teams. At the moment he has 15 games with Inter Miami where he scored 11 goals and provided 6 assists.
The MLS regular season consists of 38 rounds and the top seven in each conference will qualify directly for the playoffs. On the next day, Inter Miami will play at home again and will face Orlando City in the Florida classic, a clash that will be on Saturday, March 2, starting at 6:30 p.m. in Argentina.
Lethal counterattack and almost great goal from Messi