Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist as Inter Miami produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat Cincinnati 5-3 in a thrilling Major League Soccer encounter.
Miami secured their fifth consecutive away league victory on Wednesday night after overturning a tense contest in the closing stages of the match.
Messi registered his 10th and 11th league goals of the season, while German Berterame scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute after a costly defensive mistake by Cincinnati.
The match turned dramatically in the final minutes after Mateo Silvetti equalised for Miami in the 79th minute to make it 3-3. Messi assisted the goal following a turnover deep in Cincinnati’s half, with Silvetti cutting inside before finishing low into the corner.
Five minutes later, Miami completed the comeback when a free kick delivered by Messi caused confusion inside the penalty area. Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano collided with defender Andrei Chirila, spilling the ball for Berterame to tap into an empty net.
Messi nearly completed a hat-trick late in the match after connecting with Silvetti’s cross, but the effort was eventually ruled an own goal after deflecting off the goalkeeper and crossing the line.
Cincinnati had earlier taken control through goals from Kevin Denkey, Evander and Pavel Bucha. Denkey finished the game with one goal and two assists, while Evander’s strike in the 64th minute had briefly given the home side a 3-2 advantage.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute by capitalising on a defensive error from Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, intercepting a misplaced pass and directing the ball into an empty net.
His second goal arrived in the 55th minute after a flowing move involving Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, with Messi finishing clinically from inside the penalty area.
The win lifted Inter Miami to 25 points from 13 matches and extended their unbeaten away streak across all competitions to seven games.
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