Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Bolivia in the World Cup qualifying match. The Argentine captain scored his second hat-trick in exactly four days, this time Inter Miami got the benefit. Messi-Luis Suarez thrashed rivals New England Revolution 6-2 on a history-making day in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Messi's hat-trick
Today (Sunday) at 4 am Bangladesh time, Inter Miami will play at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. While Messi scored a hat-trick and former Uruguayan star Suarez scored two goals for the Men in Pink. Messi's Argentina beat Bolivia 6-0 in his latest hat-trick. Coincidentally, on another hat-trick day, Miami also won 6-2.
And with this win, Gerardo Tata Martino's team has set a record for the highest points in one MLS season. After 34 matches they have 74 points with 22 wins and 8 draws with 4 losses. Previously, the record for the highest 73 points in an MLS season was held by the opponents of this match, the Revolution. Messi-Suarez broke their 2021 record and made new history in MLS.
However, New England dominated at the beginning of the match. With a double lead, they held off host Miami. Starting in the second minute of the match, the visitors' first lead came from the feet of Argentine winger Luca Langoni. Dylan Borrero then doubled the lead in the 34th minute. He missed a close shot by Miami goalie Drake Callender.
After that, however, Suarez did not let the visitors rest easy. He scored a pair of goals just four minutes apart to tie Miami before the break. This Uruguayan forward scored two goals in 40 and 43 minutes. As a result, relief returned to the Miami camp before the break. Then Benjamin Cremaschi gave them the lead in the 58th minute. Leading 3-2, Miami brought on their main star Messi in the 55th minute. That is, the magic of the Argentine superstar is yet to be shown. That expectation he fulfilled in sixteen verses.
Miami's last three goals came from the feet of the captain. 78, 81 and 89 minutes of continuous storm, Messi made the opponent random. D scored the first goal with a corner shot from outside the box. After entering the box, the goalkeeper's legs melted and Messi gave Suarez's great cross with a touch of his right foot. And with that 6-2 big victory was confirmed for Miami.
Schools opened after 11 days of vacation
Miami won the first MLS Supporters' Shield as the most consistent team of the season after winning the previous match. Today, Messi-Alba-Suarez celebrated it officially. It was their first MLS title since the club's founding in 2020. After today's historic win, Miami will play all of its playoff games with home field advantage. They will face the winner of CF Montreal and Atalanta United in the first match of the playoffs on Friday.
