Messi scores again, Inter Miami tops Charlotte to make Leagues Cup semifinals

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi’s goalscoring streak lives on, as does Inter Miami’s successful streak.

Messi scored within the 86th minute, his eighth aim in 5 matches together with his new membership, and Inter Miami rolled previous Charlotte 4-0 in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal sport on Friday night time.

Messi has scored in all 5 of his appearances with Miami. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown final yr has but to lose a match with Miami, strolling off winners in all 5 matchups to this point within the Leagues Cup, a 47-team occasion composed of golf equipment from MLS and Mexico’s high league that now could be whittled right down to the ultimate 4.

Next up for Messi and his new membership: A semifinal sport on Tuesday towards both Mexican membership Queretaro or Philadelphia Union.

Charlotte nearly discovered a solution to maintain him off the scoresheet. Almost.

Josef Martinez and Robert Thomas additionally had targets for Inter Miami, an personal aim arrange by some critical Messi stress late within the second half resulted in one other rating, after which Messi supplied the right clincher within the last moments.

The workforce appeared to have shut to simply about one other sellout at 22,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium, even on an evening the place the South Florida sports activities panorama was loaded. The Miami Dolphins have been taking part in their preseason opener at residence, the Miami Marlins performed host to the New York Yankees, and Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro was headlining a pro-am league championship sport inside a packed highschool health club.

But Messi-mania lived on, as could be anticipated. And the followers in these new pink No. 10 jerseys left joyful as soon as once more, a far cry from what life was like for Inter Miami backers earlier than the Messi period began.

Before Messi: Inter Miami had received 5 of its 22 MLS matches this season.

With Messi: Inter Miami has received all 5 of its Leagues Cup matches, and now could be simply two wins from a trophy.

Messi’s first good likelihood got here half-hour into the match when some nifty quick passes on the left aspect of the field led to him getting a possibility from about 6 yards out. His shot was knocked away by Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, preserving what was then a 1-0 lead.

Little did anybody know Inter Miami already had all of the offense it might want.

Another nice alternative got here within the 69th minute, when Messi despatched a cross to Taylor, then bought it again and had open web — solely to have his attempt from about 12 yards out in the midst of the field get deflected away.

All Messi might do was look skyward, giving just a little smile.

Martinez opened the scoring for Inter Miami on a penalty kick within the twelfth minute, one which got here after Dixon Arroyo was taken down contained in the field. That foul got here shortly after Inter Miami unsuccessfully argued that Charlotte had dedicated a handball, which additionally would have led to the awarding of a penalty kick.

It went to 2-0 within the thirty second minute, when Taylor took a cross from DeAndre Yedlin close to the highest of the field and despatched a one-timer off the hand of a sprawling Kahlina. Yedlin collected a cross on the correct wing, waited for Taylor — who pointed to the place he needed the ball — and despatched it to that exact spot to arrange the second of the night time.

The personal aim made it 3-0, after which Messi completed off the win.