Lionel Messi bags brace as Inter Miami secures Supporters Shield
i

Lionel Messi scores 2 goals as Inter Miami secures MLS Supporters Shield.

Lionel Messi bags brace as Inter Miami secures Supporters Shield

Tosin Abayomi 07:00 - 03.10.2024

Lionel Messi scores 2 goals as Inter Miami secures MLS Supporters Shield.

Lionel Messi has secured another title for Inter Miami since he joined from Paris Saint-Germain.

Inter Miami Miami recorded a 2-3 away win against the Columbus Crew SC 3-2 thanks to two goals from Messi in what was perhaps the most thrilling match of the 2024 MLS season,

The victory gave the Herons the Supporters Shield, which is given to the team that ends the Major League Baseball season with the most points.

Miami needed to win to guarantee their top spot in the league, but a Crew victory would have prevented Messi from taking home the championship for at least one more gameday.

Miami and Columbus traded blows in a matchup that did not disappoint as two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference faced off.

Columbus 2-3 Inter Miami

With a lobbed through ball from Jordi Alba, Messi was able to get behind the Crew defense and score the first goal of the match in the 45th minute.

In the last minute of additional time, Messi would ensure that his team had a dominating advantage going into the second half by converting a free kick for Miami to go up 2-0.

With the keeper looking on helplessly, the 37-year-old expertly curled the ball around the Columbus wall and into the near corner, freezing Schulte.

With a curling attempt only 20 seconds into the second half, Diego Rossi got Columbus back within a goal.

The celebration would not last long, though, as Miami's Luis Suarez would reply with a third goal just one minute later.

Lionel Messi scores 2 goals as Inter Miami secures MLS Supporters Shield.
Lionel Messi scores 2 goals as Inter Miami secures MLS Supporters Shield.

Cucho Hernandez's penalty kick into the bottom left corner of the net pulled Columbus within one.

Late in the game, Miami keeper Drake Callendar made one of his greatest saves to preserve the victory when there was a chance to equal the score at 3-3.

Messi's victory marked his 46th career championship and the second in Inter Miami history, following the South Florida team's Leagues Cup victory in July 2023.

Related content

Tags: