Messi leads Inter Miami to first step toward MLS semifinals

Lionel Messi scored two goals and led Inter Miami to a 3–1 victory over Nashville in the first match of the MLS playoffs.

The team of the Argentine world champion leads the series 1–0 in wins, and if they prevail in the return match on November 1 in Nashville, they will advance to the conference semifinals, CE Report quotes ANA-MPA.

Before the match, the 38-year-old “La Pulga” received the award for top scorer of the regular season, having scored 29 goals in 28 games.

In the game against Nashville, Messi scored in the 19th minute with a header following a cross from his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez, while Tadeo Allende doubled Inter Miami’s lead in the 62nd minute, and Messi sealed the 3–0 score in stoppage time (90+6’).

The visitors reduced the deficit to 3–1 with Hany Mukhtar in the 12th minute of stoppage time.