Messi appears for the first time in the American League with a goal and makes Inter Miami dream of the playoffs

The Argentine star appeared for the first time in the league in this way, in a match held at the Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, New Jersey, and entered it in the 60th minute, when Inter was already ahead 1-0 with a goal from 37-year-old Diego Gomez.

Messi settled the case with his goal in the 89th minute.

Spanish winger Jordi Alba conceded the ball acrobaticly to Messi inside the area, and opened the “flea” on the right with a wonderful pass to Benjamin Karimachi, who returned it first to score Messi with an empty arc.

This is Messi’s eleventh goal in nine matches for Inter Miami, the team he joined last month and has not lost since.

His colleague and defender Noah Allen (19 years old) said admiringly: “He is amazing, every day he shows us something new, on and off the field.”

He added, “He’s a great person to play with, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to play alongside him.”

Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino had said many of his players needed rest after playing eight games in one month, so he left Messi on the bench, much to the disappointment of the fans that filled the Red Bull Arena.

Chants of “We love Messi” sounded throughout the match, which was also projected onto a giant screen in Times Square.

“I understand the desire of people who want to see him play, and that will happen wherever we go,” Martino admitted.

“But as a coach, I cannot be guided by the wishes of the fans. My duty is to make sure Leo takes care of himself.”

The team, which has been co-owned by David Beckham since the arrival of “The Flea”, won the League Cup (the tournament played by MLS and Mexican league teams), and qualified for the final of the US Open Cup (MLS championship). Cup) and with this victory on Saturday leaves the basement of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Indeed, Inter Miami has 21 points in 23 games and is behind Toronto, who has 19 points in 26 games.

With 11 games remaining, Inter Miami is 11 points behind the Chicago Fire, who are ninth after 25 games and are the last to be awarded a ticket to the playoffs.

Conference leader Cincinnati FC, who beat Inter Miami on penalties on Wednesday to advance to the US Open Cup final, thumped New York City 3-0 and moved up with 54 points in 25 games.

Aaron Popendza opened the scoring at the 6th minute, Junior Moreno added the second goal in the 52nd minute, and Nick Haglund scored the third goal for Cincinnati, who is 11 points ahead of the second in the east, Philadelphia Union, who won Saturday at home 3-1. D.C. United.

Saturday results in the American League:

Atlanta United 4-0 Nashville

Montreal 1-0 New England Revolution

Charlotte FC 2-1 Los Angeles

Columbus Crew 2-0 Toronto

D.C. United – Philadelphia Union 1-3

Cincinnati 3-0 New York City

New York Red Bulls – Inter Miami 0-2

Orlando City – Saint Lucia City 2-1

FC Dallas 1-0 Austin FC

Sporting Kansas City – San Jose Earthquakes 3-0

Real Salt Lake – Houston Dynamo 0-3

Los Angeles Galaxy – Chicago Fire 3-0

Portland Timbers – Vancouver Whitecaps 2-3