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Lionel Messi scores 2 goals, overcomes yellow card and jaw injury as Inter Miami wins
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![Lionel Messi scores 2 goals, overcomes yellow card and jaw injury as Inter Miami wins]()
Inter Miami have beaten Orlando City 3-1 in the Leagues Cup Round of 32. Lionel Messi scores 2 goals, overcomes yellow card and jaw injury as Inter Miami wins
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.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi continues to add goals in bunches while still adapting to a new team.
Messi scored in his third straight game and had his second consecutive multi-goal performance for Inter Miami in a 3-1 victory over Orlando City on Wednesday night.
“Something I said early on when we started, with him the most difficult things have become easier,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said. “But we are talking about a player that at the highest level of competition scores 40 goals a season.”
The Leagues Cup Round of 32 match was delayed 95 minutes because of thunderstorms.
Messi scored seven minutes into the match then added a second strike in the 72nd minute. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has five goals in three games since his highly-anticipated MLS debut July 21.
As he eluded the Orlando City backline, Messi stopped a pass from Robert Taylor on his chest, dribbled a couple of yards near the edge of the 6-yard box and converted a shot that landed under the crossbar.
The goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead before Orlando tied it 11 minutes later.
Messi struck again when he received a centering pass from Josef Martinez and flicked a right-footed shot inside the left post and put Inter Miami ahead 3-1.
