Lionel Messi once again produced magic for Inter Miami as the World Cup winner contributed to all six of the Herons’ goals Saturday night.
The Argentine and teammate Luis Suarez ran riot to produce a stunning 6-2 comeback win over the New York Red Bulls at Chase Stadium.
Messi assisted a Matias Rojas brace before linking up with former Barcelona teammate Suarez three times to become the first player with five assists in an MLS game.
His six goal contributions also set a record for the most in a single game in MLS history.
The striker found the net himself two minutes after Rojas’ 48th-minute equalizer to notch his 10th goal of the season.
Lionel Messi once again produced magic for Inter Miami in Saturday’s 6-2 win over New York
The Argentine and teammate Luis Suarez ran riot to thrash the Red Bulls at Chase Stadium
Messi provided all three assists for his former Barcelona teammate’s hattrick
Before Saturday night’s battle for third, Messi had been on pace to match Carlos Vela’s mark for most goal contributions in a single season.
With his goal-contribution explosion against the Red Bulls, he’s now beating that pace, according to The Athletic.
The win extended Miami´s unbeaten string to six. The streak began after a 4-0 loss at New York on April 20, in which Messi did not play because of an injury.
Miami began the rout with Rojas’ equalizer in the 48th minute. Messi centered a pass to Rojas whose left-footed shot landed under the crossbar.
Suárez then fed a charging Messi with a touch pass to beat New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel with a shot from 15 yards.
Rojas made it 3-1 with his second goal in the 62nd minute on an assist from Messi.
Messi then contributed on former Barcelona teammate Suárez´s first goal in the 69th minute.
Messi also notched assists for a Matias Rojas brace during the Herons’ thumping victory
Rojas’ left-footed shot landed under the crossbar for the equalizer minutes after the break
The striker found the net himself in the second-half to notch his 10th goal of the season
Suárez also struck in the 75th and 81st minutes before the Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 points) closed the scoring on Emil Forsberg´s penalty kick in stoppage time.
New York controlled possession early and eventually capitalized on a Miami defensive breakdown that resulted on Dante Vanzeir´s goal in the 30th minute.
José Carmona ran deep into the right wing of the large area and blasted a shot that bounced off the far post. An unmarked Vanzeir retrieved the deflection and converted from 15 yards.
Messi had his only scoring opportunity of the first half in the 24th minute, when Coronel stopped his shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Messi´s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba missed his third straight game because of a hamstring injury.
The Argentine superstar’s strike put Miami ahead two minutes after Rojas’s equalizer
Messi celebrates with Suarez after the former Liverpool striker sealed his hattrick
The loss snapped New York’s six-match unbeaten streak. Dante Vanzeir and Emil Forsberg had the goals for the Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 points), who dropped to 6-4-0 in regular-season play against Miami.
Miami dominated time of possession in the first half, but it was New York that had two shots on target and a 1-0 lead at the halftime whistle.
The Red Bulls opened the scoring in the 30th minute. Wikelman Jose Carmona’s strike hit the post, and the rebound bounced to Vanzeir, who put it past a diving Drake Callender for his second goal of the season.
Both clubs will continue MLS play next Saturday. Inter Miami will visit CF Montreal while the Red Bulls will host New England.