Lionel Messi delivered another standout performance Saturday night, recording a first-half assist before scoring twice in the second half to lead Inter Miami to a 3-2 win over D.C. United. With the brace, Messi moved to the top of the Golden Boot race with 22 goals, one ahead of Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge.
Messi set up first-year midfielder Tadeo Allende in the 35th minute, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 halftime lead. The assist was Messi’s 12th of the season, tied for fourth-most in Major League Soccer. D.C. United equalized early in the second half, as Christian Benteke converted a pass from Brandon Servania in the 53rd minute for his ninth goal of the year and the 47th of his MLS career.
Messi restored Miami’s advantage in the 66th minute, finishing off a feed from longtime teammate Jordi Alba, who notched his 10th assist of the campaign. Messi struck again in the 85th minute, this time off a pass from Sergio Busquets, giving him a two-goal cushion. Busquets now has seven assists this season.
United made things tense in stoppage time when Jacob Murrell scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Benteke and Rida Zouhir, but Inter Miami held on for the win.
Goalkeeper Óscar Ustari recorded four saves for Miami (15-6-7) in his 22nd start. Luis Barraza also tallied four saves for D.C. United (5-16-10).
Inter Miami currently sits fifth in the Eastern Conference and will travel to face fourth-place New York City FC at Citi Field on Wednesday. Miami trails NYCFC by just one point but holds two matches in hand.
