Lionel Messi Scores Twice as Inter Miami Stuns Cincinnati 5-3/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lionel Messi scored two goals and added an assist as Inter Miami rallied late to defeat Cincinnati 5-3 on the road. German Berterame delivered the winning goal in the 84th minute during Miami’s explosive comeback. The victory extended Inter Miami’s road winning streak to seven matches and added another standout performance to Messi’s MLS season.
Messi Inter Miami Cincinnati Quick Looks
- Messi finished with two goals and one assist
- Inter Miami erased multiple deficits to win 5-3
- German Berterame scored the decisive 84th-minute goal
- Miami extended its road winning streak to seven
- Cincinnati lost despite leading after the 75th minute
- Messi now has 12 MLS goals this season
- Mateo Silvetti sparked the comeback with late equalizer
- Miami outshot Cincinnati 16-10
Deep Look
Messi Leads Another Inter Miami Comeback
Lionel Messi once again delivered a dominant performance for Inter Miami, scoring twice and adding an assist in a dramatic 5-3 comeback victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night.
The Argentine superstar helped Miami erase multiple deficits while extending the club’s road winning streak to seven matches.
It marked the third time this season Messi has produced at least three goal contributions in a single MLS game.
Messi now ranks second in Major League Soccer with 12 goals this season.
Fast Start for Miami
Inter Miami struck first midway through the opening half.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute after a dangerous attacking sequence near Cincinnati’s goal. His effort deflected off defender Matt Miazga before crossing the line to give Miami a 1-0 advantage.
Cincinnati responded before halftime when Kevin Denkey converted a penalty kick in the 41st minute to level the match at 1-1.
The equalizer shifted momentum as Cincinnati gradually took control during portions of the second half.
Cincinnati Takes the Lead Twice
Cincinnati moved ahead shortly after halftime when Pavel Bucha scored in the 49th minute.
Only six minutes later, Luis Suarez found Messi in space before the Argentine cut inside and calmly finished to make it 2-2.
The back-and-forth battle continued throughout the second half.
Evander restored Cincinnati’s lead in the 64th minute with a powerful right-footed strike from just outside the penalty area.
At that stage, Cincinnati appeared positioned to secure another home victory.
Miami’s Late Rally Changes Everything
Inter Miami mounted a furious comeback in the closing stages.
Substitute Mateo Silvetti brought Miami level at 3-3 in the 79th minute shortly after entering the match.
The equalizer shifted pressure entirely onto Cincinnati.
Then came the decisive moment.
In the 84th minute, German Berterame scored the go-ahead goal after a chaotic set-piece sequence. Cincinnati defender Andrei Chirila collided with goalkeeper Roman Celentano, leaving the net exposed for Berterame to finish into the open goal.
Miami’s late surge stunned Cincinnati supporters and completed one of the club’s most dramatic wins of the season.
Messi Nearly Adds Another Hat Trick
Messi nearly capped the night with a hat trick in the 89th minute.
His shot struck the post before bouncing off goalkeeper Roman Celentano and into the net.
Initially credited as Messi’s third goal, the play was later ruled an own goal against Cincinnati.
Had the goal counted officially, it would have marked Messi’s 61st career hat trick across all competitions.
Even without the third goal, Messi still delivered one of the league’s standout performances of the season.
Historic Loss for Cincinnati
The defeat represented a rare collapse for Cincinnati under coach Pat Noonan.
It marked the first time in 64 matches since Noonan became head coach in 2023 that Cincinnati lost a game after leading beyond the 75th minute.
Cincinnati had appeared in control multiple times during the second half before Miami’s explosive late rally changed the outcome.
The loss also highlighted the growing attacking chemistry developing between Messi, Suarez, and Miami’s supporting cast.
Messi Continues Dominating MLS
Messi’s influence on MLS continues growing during his time with Inter Miami.
The World Cup-winning superstar now has:
- 61 goals
- 42 assists
- 65 regular-season MLS matches
His production has transformed Inter Miami into one of the league’s biggest attractions while elevating the club into championship contention.
Miami also controlled much of the attacking play Wednesday night, finishing with a 16-10 advantage in shots.
Inter Miami Building Momentum
The victory adds to Inter Miami’s growing momentum as the MLS season progresses.
The club’s seven-game road winning streak reflects major improvement in consistency and attacking depth.
Miami’s ability to rally repeatedly against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams also reinforced its status as a legitimate title contender.
With Messi continuing to perform at an elite level, Inter Miami remains one of the most dangerous teams in the league heading deeper into the season.
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