MESSI COMES OFF BENCH TO SCORE WINNER – Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Union
Lionel Messi scored his second goal of the season only two minutes after his entrance as a second-half substitute, and Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Union.
Robert Taylor notched his first goal of the season before halftime for Miami in an early-season meeting of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams. Daniel Gazdag scored in the 80th minute for Philadelphia to prevent the Union from being shut out for the first time this season. After Gazdag’s tally, Drake Callender went in goal for the injured Oscar Ustari to see off the final few minutes of Miami’s eighth win out of nine in all competitions this season.
Messi missed international duty last week with Argentina over the March international window due to a minor adductor injury. And he began on the bench with Miami facing a cross-country trip to begin their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against LAFC on Wednesday night.
After entering for Taylor in the 55th minute, Messi found the net on his first opportunity of the evening on an attack that began with Luis Suarez defending in his own half.
