Inter Miami had an up-and-down time at the FIFA Club World Cup, impressing in the group stage with a crucial win over Porto and a draw against Palmeiras that was enough to advance. However, the last impression they left on the world was a negative one, conceding four goals to PSG in 45 minutes in a Round of 16 clash between clubs at different levels.
It was precisely because of this that there was a huge expectation about how Javier Mascheranno and Lionel Messi's team would return after four games away from the MLS. And the Miami team were very effective, surprising us positively with a victory that will certainly stick in the minds of the fans with two spectacular goals scored by Lionel Messi.
The victory was all the more impressive considering that Montreal opened the scoring just a minute into the game, taking advantage of a very rare lapse of concentration by Lionel Messi, who lost possession and Prince Owusu drove the ball into the net, creating an atmosphere of increased pressure for Inter Miami.
After many minutes in which Javier Mascheranno's side built up a lot of attacking pressure, Inter Miami went in search of an equalizer with the start of Messi's comeback. In the 32nd minute, the Argentine idol provided a perfect assist for Tadeo Allende to rise from his missed chances at the World Cup to equalize.
Lionel Messi redeems himself and secures victory for Inter Miami
And the breakthrough came just seven minutes later, when Lionel Messi burst into the box in a one-on-one move, getting between two defenders to shoot across goal and score a beautiful goal. At the start of the second half, Venezuelan Telasco Segovia beat the goalkeeper with a shot from outside the area to seal the win. But the night only really ended when Messi scored a sensational goal after breaking through the middle and leaving four opponents in his wake before making it 4-1.