FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Lionel Messi scored twice to improve his Major League Soccer record for points with seven and also had an assist to give Inter Miami a 3-1 lead over Nashville SC on Saturday night. .
It was Messi's second two-goal game in MLS, after scoring twice against Orlando on March 2. He has scored or assisted in all six league games he has played, but has missed four due to injury.
Sergio Busquets has scored his first goal for Miami since joining former Barcelona teammate Messi last summer. Another former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, provided the assist for Messi's first goal.
“I'm very happy that this goal contributed to the team's victory,” Busquets said in Spanish. “What's important is the team and the win. We managed to score today, but the final result is a positive result for the team.”
Miami (5-2-3, 21 points) remains undefeated in five games against Nashville since Messi's arrival. Miami also maintained its lead in the Eastern Conference.
“We're very used to their style of play, and that helped us today,” Miami defender Tomas Aviles said.
For the second straight week, Miami allowed Nashville to take the lead in the opening minutes on an own goal from Miami defender Franco Neri. Neri deflected a corner kick by Daniel Lovitz into the Miami Nets in the second minute.
It was the only goal for Nashville (1-6-1, 4).
Miami overcame an early deficit with goals from Messi and Busquets in the 11th and 39th minutes.
Nashville goalie Elliott Pannicko deflected Messi's 12-yard shot, giving Suarez an open shot, and Messi immediately took the shot. With Panicco out of position, Messi scored the equalizer with a sliding shot six yards inside the box.
“We didn't play good football in the first 10 minutes, but things changed after Leo's goal,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. “We started finding our space and creating opportunities.”
Busquets headed Messi's corner kick at the near post and past Panicco to equalize. It was Busquets' first goal since 2022, when he was at Barcelona.
Goalie Drake Callender kept Miami's lead in the 55th minute with a diving deflection off Hany Mukhtar's 35-yard shot.
Messi scored on a penalty kick in the 81st minute, giving Miami a two-goal cushion. Nashville's Josh Bauer fouled Leo Alfonso just outside the penalty area, and Messi beat backup goalie Joe Willis inside the right post.
Messi's former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba was unable to play due to a hamstring injury. Diego Gomez also left the game late in the first half with an ankle injury. Martino said Gomez will undergo additional tests to determine the severity of his injury.
Miami visits New England next Saturday and Nashville hosts San Jose.
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