Messi nets double to boost Inter Miami as Mueller clinches late winner for Whitecaps
Lionel Messi netted a pair of goals to inspire Inter Miami to a convincing 4-0 win against Atlanta United, taking the top spot in Major League Soccers goal charts with this vital result for the Florida outfit.
The Argentinian ace recorded his 25th and 26th strikes of the campaign, pulling ahead of Los Angeles FCs Denis Bouanga in the Golden Boot contest after being level with the Gabonese forward on 24 goals at the start of the day.
Miami, who have already secured a place in the MLS Cup playoffs, kept up their drive for a stronger postseason seeding.
They drew level with Cincinnati on 62 points in the Eastern Conference, trailing the top side Philadelphia by four points, with the latter having locked in the Supporters Shield for the leagues best regular season performance.
Messis opener in the 39th minute was a stunning effort.
Baltasar Rodriguez dispossessed an Atlanta defender and played the ball to Messi near the edge of the area. The forward advanced and bent a left footed effort past Pedro Amador and beyond Atlanta custodian Jayden Hibbert into the top left corner.
Hibbert had thwarted Messi earlier in the 13th minute, as the eight time Ballon dOr recipient failed to convert a series of initial chances.
Messi played a key role in Jordi Albas goal that made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, sending a pass ahead to the Spaniard, who lifted a left footed chip over Hibbert into the bottom right of the net.
Albas sixth goal this season coincided with Inters homage to the ex Spain and Barcelona standout, who revealed earlier this week his plan to hang up his boots at the close of the MLS season.
Uruguayan Luis Suarez extended the lead to 3-0 in the 61st minute, and Messi completed his brace in the 87th, tapping in a left footed finish from the heart of the box after Alba delivered a precise long pass.
Amid the MLS schedule overlapping the FIFA international break, Messis involvement in Inters game was uncertain until just before the start, when coach Javier Mascherano revealed his team selection.
Messi and Rodrigo De Paul had joined Argentinas training sessions in Florida this week, though Messi watched from the sidelines as his nation defeated Venezuela 1-0 in a friendly at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.
De Paul entered as a substitute late against Venezuela but was absent for Inter, with the club missing six players due to international call ups in this break, including Argentinas upcoming fixture against Puerto Rico on Monday, relocated from Chicago to Inters Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Whitecaps top West
Saturdays match marked Inters final home fixture of the regular season at the venue, ahead of their relocation to the new Miami Freedom Park for the following campaign.
In Orlando, ex Germany and Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller struck the decisive goal deep into second half added time, steering the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-1 triumph over Orlando City SC and the summit of the Western Conference table.
Vancouver now hold 63 points, establishing a three point advantage over San Diego as Mueller extended his impressive scoring run since arriving in MLS.
The 36 year old has bagged seven goals across eight outings in all competitions for the Whitecaps.
Mueller wrapped up the points with a powerful shot from distance that evaded Orlando shot stopper Pedro Gallese and nestled inside the right upright.
Nelson Pierre had equalised for Vancouver in the 81st minute, cancelling out Dagur Thorhallssons opener for Orlando in the 24th.