How Lionel Messi scored two goals to lift Inter Miami past Orlando City in Leagues Cup match

Publish date: 2024-05-22

Inter Miami have beaten Orlando City 3-1 in the Leagues Cup Round of 32. Lionel Messi scored twice, Josef Martinez added a penalty and Jordi Alba debuted for Miami.

Michael Dominski

August 3, 2023 at 12:12 PM EDTHow Lionel Messi scored two goals to lift Inter Miami past Orlando City in Leagues Cup match

(Photo: Getty Images)

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Tata praises Messi

Tata Martino spoke about Lionel Messi's brilliance after the win: "We are talking about a player that scored 40 goals in a season. It makes sense for him to score four goals in three matches."

He also compared this match between Florida rivals to the Buenos Aires derby between Boca Juniors and River Plate and to Barcelona's rivalry with Real Madrid.

Match stats

Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

Martinez loves Orlando

Josef Martínez when asked by Tony Cherchi about scoring his ninth career goal against Orlando City: "I really love playing against them. I think they really love me, too."

Orlando City manager: Refereeing was 'a circus'

Orlando City manager: Refereeing was 'a circus'

(Photo: Getty Images)

Orlando City manager Oscar Pareja was quite unhappy with the referee's performance tonight: "We have to start with the reality of...the call of the penalty kick and other calls were ridiculous. Today was a circus. The penalty kick was unbelievable. I don’t know if the VAR came today. If the VAR came today, then we have to be honest.

"There was a double yellow card for Messi. I don’t care if he was Messi. That affected the game. We are frustrated. The match should be fair, and that was not the case on the field today. We take our responsibility, OK, but I have to say that. You can not hide this type of situation."

Messi told Martinez to take penalty

Messi told Martinez to take penalty

(Photo: Getty Images)

Josef Martinez tells the Apple TV Español panel that Lionel Messi told him to take the penalty.

Martínez: "You don't want it?"

Messi: "No, you take it."

Martínez: "When there's a pen, you have to wait to see what the man says."

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Yedlin: 'With players like we have up front they're bound to score'

Yedlin: 'With players like we have up front they're bound to score'

(Photo: Getty Images)

DeAndre Yedlin spoke to Apple TV about the match: "We had a bit of a difficult time in the first half. I think we were just rushing things, trying to play too difficult of passes. Tata stressed in the second half just keep staying on the ball and we'll find opportunities. With players like we have up front they're bound to score. Credit to Orlando they gave us a tough game."

On what Messi brings to Inter Miami: "He just gives everybody confidence around him. You know you can give him balls in difficult situations and he's going to make something out of it. On the flip side, for the teams that we're playing against, it puts a bit of fear in their eyes, they're on their heels a bit, they're dropping back a bit more and it gives us a bit more space to play."

On what they need to do to succeed on the road against FC Dallas: "To continue playing as we are. We're been controlling games which is good, that's what we want to do. And it doesn't change when we're on the road, we want to control the game, make our opponent defend and that's what we'll try to do."

Frisco, Texas here we come

Messi’s first road trip in MLS will be to the site of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Seems about right.

He will treasure that jersey, surely

...put it in a frame next to his World Cup Golden Ball???

The number of swapped jerseys Messi must have

Same thing he probably did with Santiago Sosa's jersey last week, Tom.

Messi swaps shirts with Santos

What do you think Lionel Messi does with a Rafael Santos jersey swap?

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Welcome to MLS

Talking s--t at Felipe Martins. A true MLS rite of passage for Messi.

FT: Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

Another game, another Miami win, another Messi goal or two.

The good times keeping rolling in south Florida!

VAR disallows goal

90+11' Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

VAR has taken away Orlando's late consolation goal.

Goal! Orlando get a late consolation

90+9' Inter Miami 3-2 Orlando City

Araujo is all alone at the back post to fire home a great cross into an empty net.

It's surely too little, too late for Orlando. We've already gone well beyond the seven added minutes.

VAR is checking for offside.

Fan violence

90+7' Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

Bit of a fight just broke out amongst the Miami fans, with punches thrown and some fans ejected. Taking some of that on-pitch aggro into the stands.

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Messi looks for Alba

90+2' Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

Messi looks for Alba in space at the back post, but the full-back mistimes his volley.

Not resting on his laurels up two goals, Messi immediately sprints forward to press Gallese as Orlando look to go the other way.

Stoppage time

90+1' Inter Miami 3-1 Orlando City

Seven minutes are added on to the end of the match.

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