Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Inter Miami to a dominant 4-1 victory over CF Montreal on Saturday night. The win marked Miami’s return to league play after a long break and extended their unbeaten run in Major League Soccer.
Miami entered the match after being knocked out of the Club World Cup with a heavy 4-0 loss. But the team bounced back quickly, showing energy and control from the start. The game took place in Montreal, where the home side had hoped to continue recent positive form.
Montreal got off to a fast start and shocked Miami in the second minute. A failed pass by Messi left Prince Owusu with the ball near the box. Owusu didn’t miss, firing a clean shot between the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 1-0 for Montreal.
Despite the early goal, Miami stayed calm and created several chances. Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois made a series of saves to keep his team ahead in the early minutes. He stopped a close header in the 13th minute and tipped Jordi Alba’s shot onto the post two minutes later.
In the 20th minute, Sirois charged off his line and slid in to block a shot by Tadeo Allende. Just a few minutes later, he rushed to stop another chance from Telasco Segovia, keeping Miami scoreless.
But the pressure finally paid off in the 33rd minute. Messi, playing just outside the box, found Allende with a clever pass. Allende took a few steps and drove a low, powerful shot into the corner to level the score at 1-1.
Then Messi took charge. In the 40th minute, he picked up the ball on the right side, cut inside, and curled a low shot past the diving keeper to give Miami a 2-1 lead. It was his 11th goal in 14 league matches this season.
Miami’s control only grew stronger after halftime. In the 60th minute, Segovia added a third goal. His shot from outside the area clipped the bottom of the crossbar before bouncing in.
Two minutes later, Messi struck again. Starting near midfield, he weaved past three defenders with skillful dribbles. Once inside the box, he lifted a rocket of a shot into the top of the net. It was a brilliant solo effort that left the crowd stunned and sealed the result at 4-1.
Messi now has 12 goals in just 14 league games, and his influence on the pitch remains unmatched. With his second brace of the season, he led his team to a third straight MLS win.
The victory lifts Miami to 32 points on the season. After a rough defeat in international play, the team has quickly regained form in the league.
Montreal, meanwhile, drops to 3-13-5 and remains near the bottom of the standings. Owusu’s early strike gave hope, but the team couldn’t match Miami’s quality for long. Montreal had won two of its last three games before this loss, but now faces a tough path ahead.
For Miami, the return to league action couldn’t have gone better. Messi’s brace, along with strong team play, showed why they remain a top contender in the East. They controlled possession, created chances, and showed few signs of rust after the long break.
The team’s next challenge will be to carry this momentum forward. With Messi in top form, their chances remain high.
