Before the gaze of many Hollywood stars and celebrities in the stands, the Argentine Lionel Messi walked this Sunday on the pitch of the Banc of California in Los Angeles and, despite not scoring, led Inter’s resounding 1-3 win with two assists Miami to Los Angeles FC.
The goals of the Argentine Facundo Farías, the Spanish Jordi Alba, his first goal in the United States, and the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana launched an Inter Miami that left the last place in the East of the MLS and is now eight points behind DC United, who marks the ‘playoffs’ positions, with two fewer games.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s team left behind Wednesday’s goalless draw at home against Nashville and sealed a momentous victory to feed their ambitions of reaching the postseason, when two weeks of competition lie ahead of them without being able to count on Messi, concentrated with the Argentine team for the World Cup qualifiers.
It was the second consecutive away win for Inter Miami, who before this streak had won just once in eleven this year, while Los Angeles FC lost for the second time in a row at home after giving up a huge number of scoring opportunities that could change the history of the meeting.
Messi gave the assists for Alba’s 2-0 and Campana’s 3-0 and now has eleven goals and five assists in eleven games with his new team, with which he was already champion of the Leagues Cup and is a Cup finalist US Open.
He did it before the eyes of celebrities and celebrities such as Prince Enrique, the actors Leonardo Di Caprio, Selena Gómez and Gerard Butler, the singer Liam Gallagher or the basketball player LeBron James.
It was difficult for Inter Miami to get used to the playing field, which in the first quarter of an hour suffered the push of a determined offensive LAFC, which forgave two great scoring opportunities with Bouanga.
The Gabonese missed the first by managing a counterattack in the worst way, without passing the ball to Vela, free at his side in the penalty area, and missed another one-on-one against Callender, who saved his shot.
At the moment of maximum difficulties, Inter Miami knew how to take advantage of their first opportunity, with a low right foot shot from Facundo Farías inside the area after a quarter of an hour, which gave Martino’s team the advantage.
LAFC created dangerous situations with ease, but it was Bouanga’s bad day to stop him. The Gabonese had another one-on-one with Callender, but he missed to shoot wide.
And Inter Miami, despite showing defensive fragility, had a huge opportunity to expand the gap through Messi’s boots, but the Argentine ran into a great save from McCarthy to the surprise of the entire stadium. Even Selena Gómez, in the stands, was left speechless.
He did not change the script at the restart, with LAFC creating the main dangers and Inter Miami scoring. In minute 51, Messi took advantage of Los Angeles’ poor defensive position to find a through ball for Jordi Alba, who calmly scored against McCarthy to celebrate his first goal for Inter Miami.
Bouanga, always very active on the left flank, and Vela had good opportunities to try to reopen the game, but they again lacked punch. And, in minute 83, Messi led a counterattack and offered Campana the comfortable ball to make it 3-0.
With the game already sentenced, in the 90th minute, LAFC achieved the goal of honor from Hollingshead, although it remained a very small consolation after a game in which his lack of punch cost him all three points.
1. Los Angeles FC: McCarthy; Palencia (Palace, m.62), Long, Chiellini (Murillo, m.52), Hollings; Acosta (Tillman, m.48), Sanchez, Bogusz; Vela, Gonzalez (Olivera, m.62), Bouanga.
3. Inter Miami: Callender; Yedlin, Avilés, Kryvtsov, Miller, Alba (Allen, m.82); Gómez (Ulloa, m.86), Busquets, Cremaschi (Arroyo, m.73); Messi, Farías (Campana, m.74).
Goals: 0-1, m.14: Farías. 0-2, m.54: Alba. 0-3, m.83: Bell. 1-3, m.90: Hollingshead.
Referee: Ted Unkel (USA). Admonished Bogusz (m.3), Palaces (m.77), Tilllman (m.79), and Yedlin (m.63), Farias (m.72)
Incidents: Match corresponding to day 30 of the MLS played at the Banc of California stadium before 22,000 spectators.
