Lionel Messi continued his hot start to the season, scoring twice and laying on an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami came from behind to beat Nashville SC 3-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday.
Messi now has nine goals and eight assists in nine games in all competitions so far this season. He is also the first player since 2016 to record a goal contribution in each of his first six MLS games to start a season.
The Argentine forward’s opening goal Saturday came in the 11th minute as he finished off a goalmouth scramble after his initial effort had been saved by Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco.
The effort drew Miami level after an own goal by Miami defender Franco Negri, filling in for the injured Jordi Alba, gave Nashville the lead after just two minutes.
But Miami turned things around to go in front six minutes before half-time. Messi swung in a corner from the right that his former Barcelona teammate Busquets met with a header at the near post to net his first goal for Miami.
Lionel Messi now has seven goals in six MLS games this season.Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Nashville threatened to tie the game up once again in the second half before Messi sealed the victory in the 81st minute. This time it came from the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after Nashville defender Josh Bauer was penalized for a foul on substitute Leonardo Afonso.
The win moved Miami to 5W-3D-2L this season to stay at the at the top of the Eastern Conference.
But it was not all positive for Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s star-studded side, with key midfielder Diego Gómez stretchered off with an injury late in the first half.
Miami was already without injured Argentina youth international midfielder Federico Redondo and has lost forward Facundo Farias for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
