Messi Leads Inter Miami to 4-0 Victory Over DC United

Lionel Messi marked his first appearance since retiring from international football with two goals as Inter Miami defeated DC United 4-0 in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Saturday.

The 39-year-old forward scored in the 47th and 60th minutes, four days after finding the net in Argentina’s victory over Benin in what he described as his final appearance for the national team.

The result offered a boost to defending champions Miami, who had won only once in their previous 10 league matches. The victory moved them from third to second in the Eastern Conference standings, with 49 points from 28 matches after 13 wins, five defeats and 10 draws.

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez had put Miami in control with two first-half goals. He opened the scoring in the third minute, firing a left-footed effort from the centre of the penalty area into the top-left corner.

Suarez doubled the lead in the 39th minute with his 16th league goal of the season. German forward Berterame provided the assist for both of the striker’s goals.

Messi extended the advantage shortly after the restart, converting a pass from Suarez with a left-footed finish to make it 3-0. He completed his brace 13 minutes later, weaving past three DC United defenders before scoring again to seal the emphatic victory.

Miami are seeking to become the first club since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012 to win consecutive MLS Cup titles. Messi, the league’s leading points contributor with 23 goals and 13 assists, is also pursuing a third successive MLS Most Valuable Player award.

Elsewhere, Toronto FC produced a dramatic late comeback to defeat Montreal 2-1 in their Canadian derby, with Scottish forward Lewis Morgan and American midfielder Djordje Mihailovic scoring in stoppage time.

Montreal took the lead in the 52nd minute through Mexican forward Daniel Rios, but Toronto levelled in the third minute of added time when Morgan, who joined from San Diego last month, scored his first regular-season MLS goal in two years.

Mihailovic, a former Montreal player, then struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure the win.

The midfielder said the goal was particularly satisfying because he had now scored for both sides in the rivalry. The victory ended Toronto’s three-match losing streak and moved the club to within one point of an Eastern Conference playoff position.

In Chicago, Swiss forward Maren Haile-Selassie scored in the 87th minute to earn the 10-man Chicago Fire a 2-1 victory over New York City FC.

New York City took the lead in the 19th minute through Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf. Chicago’s task became more difficult when Ivory Coast midfielder Dje D’Avilla received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 43rd minute.

Despite being reduced to 10 players, Chicago drew level in the 55th minute through Swedish midfielder Anton Saletros before Haile-Selassie scored the late winner.