Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Lionel Messi showed why he’s one of the best footballers on the planet in his third game with Inter Miami. He scored two goals to secure another solid win for his side, this time against Florida derby rivals Orlando City.
Messi had been his rivals’ target even before the game started. In the budding rivalry between the purple of Orlando City and the pink of Inter Miami, a mural of the Argentine was damaged in Miami. However, Messi did his speaking on the pitch.
Early on, fans had to wait to see him in action: the game was delayed due to heavy rain. But once it started they were quickly rewarded. The Rosario-born star took just six minutes to score. Rushing into the box, he received a great pass from Robert Taylor, stopped it with his chest and volleyed the ball with his left foot to put it past Peruvian international goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, scoring the opening 1-0 for the side led by coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, and becoming the quickest player in Major League Soccer history to score five goals.
Orlando City fought their way back into the match shortly after. Uruguayan midfielder César Araujo scored the equalizer for “The Lions” after a rebound from goalkeeper Drake Callender.
This clash would also see another first for Messi in the United States: his first yellow card with Inter Miami after he brought Peruvian midfielder Wilder Cartagena down with a harsh tackle.
Messi also had a heated debate with Araujo, although the Uruguayan didn’t hold any grudges after the game: “What happens in the game stays in the game. There is nothing to say. The important thing is that I played against the best in the world, that’s the memory I’ll keep.”
The first half wrapped up with the game still tied, but goals wouldn’t take much longer to come. Four minutes into the second half, Venezuelan striker Josef Martínez was brought down inside the box and the referee gave a penalty for Inter Miami. Many expected Messi to take it, but La Pulga wanted his teammate to do it.
“When the penalty was played, he was the one who told me to take it,” Martínez said after the match. “I was playing poorly so Messi let me shoot the penalty to get some confidence back. I appreciate that gesture.” The Venezuelan striker scored confidently, sending Gallese the other way to make it 2-1.
Martinez paid the favor back later. When the clock showed 26 minutes into the second half, a great move by Messi opened up a counter opportunity. He sprayed a pass for Robert Taylor who put a great cross into the box, this time for Martínez. The Venezuelan controlled it with his chest and passed it back to Messi for an easy chance the former Barcelona star took magnificently with his right foot, the “bad” one.
Despite some drama late on, as Araujo scored the 3-2 in the ninth minute of added time before it was ruled out for off-side, it was another comfortable win for Inter Miami.
The team part-owned by David Beckham also saw the debut of their third former FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba. “It no longer surprises me, the things Leo does are outrageous,” said Alba after the game. “After two years playing without him, today we have finally played again and now we’ll enjoy more years together.”
However, it wasn’t all kind words for Inter Miami and Messi. Orlando City coach Óscar Pareja was furious with referee Iván Barton, particularly in the play that led to the penalty. “What happened on the field today was not fair, so we’re very frustrated”, Pareja said, “It was a very clear simulation. There is a VAR that sees that and the referee did not even take the time to go see it. It was a transcendental play of the game”.
He was also angry at the referee’s handling of Messi, claiming the Argentine received special treatment: “There should have been a double yellow [expulsion] for Leo. I don’t care if it’s him, he has to be measured by the same bar.”
Inter Miami will now face FC Dallas in the round of 16 of the Leagues Cup, next Sunday, August 6, in Dallas. The Texan team reached this stage by beating the Mexican team Mazatlán 2-1, with a penalty goal by former Independiente star Alan Velasco.
