Two finals in 37 days: the impact of the defiant Messi on the MLS bottom line

What Lionel Messi plays is something he himself invented. Football was another before the Argentine decided to paint with his left foot those millimeter passes that end in a goal. And it was his precision that has led Inter Miami to a second final after barely a month in the team, this time at the US Open Cup.

With two assists from Messi for the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana, the second for 2-2 in the 97th minute, Inter Miami forced extra time against Cincinnati. The added half hour of play ended with a goal per side to close everything from penalties. And it was in the definition from twelve steps where once again the rosés had a better aim –the Argentine converted the first shot– and with the great figure of goalkeeper Drake Callender, who saved a shot for the final 5-4, as he appeared in the final of the Leagues Cup that they won last Saturday.

The Messi thing is pure show. It was a game in which Cincinnati clearly dominated, but they were unable to transfer control of him in more goals as they usually do in MLS, a tournament in which he is the leader. And it was two accurate centers from Leo that allowed Miami to play half an hour more and look for the epic, and they did it despite the fatigue that was noticeable in their players, also in Leo.

Thus, on September 27 Messi will have a new opportunity to lift a new title. He will face the winner of the series that Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake played last night. If he is before the first, it will be in Miami.

Thus, Messi continues to make history at Inter Miami with just five weeks at the club. The pink team is MLS colero and last night they eliminated the tournament leader in the US Open Cup. In the Leagues Cup, which they won, they beat a Mexican team (Cruz Azul) and scored a total of 22 goals in seven games.

-History-

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. Its origins date back to 1914 under the name of the National Challenge Cup, a contest where all categories play. It was not until 1999 that it changed its name and since 2008 the champion has qualified for the Concacaf Champions League.

Inter Miami has never been able to reach the final, and with the arrival of Messi they were able to establish historical milestones. For the first time, they won the Leagues Cup, a tournament that brings together clubs from the United States and Mexico, and is already on the verge of a second crown.

Thus, although he could not convert and his mark for consecutive games scoring was seven games, Messi ends up being decisive. The goals were from Campana, but it was Lionel who put the ball on the Ecuadorian’s head, who showed that his is the aerial game, since he is not so skillful with his feet.

“I still don’t think about retirement. I like to play, I enjoy being with a ball on the pitch”, Messi said a few days ago, but it is the world that enjoys what he does on each pitch. And he is a new Messi too. This time the one who challenges the stands, like in the World Cup. After taking his penalty, Leo stared at the Cincinnati fans behind the goal.

This doesn’t stop for crack. Although he needs a rest, now his demand is to recover the team in MLS and get it out of the bottom of the Eastern Conference. On Saturday he has to play again, but it will be seen if he is in physical condition, because he has magic for a while.

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