Lionel Messi nets goal as Miami secures 3-2 win over NYCFC in MLS matchup

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Lionel Messi scored his 901st career goal, and Inter Miami delivered New York City’s first loss of the Major League Soccer season on Sunday with a 3-2 triumph.

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Argentine superstar Messi netted the equaliser off a free kick in the 61st minute and Brazilian defender Micael headed home the game-winner in the 74th.

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Visiting Miami was still smarting after being ousted from the CONCACAF Champions Cup following a draw with Nashville on Wednesday, the same night Messi scored the 900th goal of his legendary career.

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Argentine defender Gonzalo Lujan opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the fourth minute on a right-foot shot into the lower right corner.

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Nicolas Fernandez answered for NYCFC in the 17th minute off a free kick, smashing a left-foot blast into the upper left corner.

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Messi had his chances in the first half, missing right in the 27th minute on a fast break and being denied in the 36th minute by New York goalkeeper Matt Freese.

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A Messi blast struck the crossbar in the 42nd minute, and he was off target left from the heart of the box in the 44th.

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New York’s Agustín Ojeda took a through ball from Maxi Moralez and fired a shot into the bottom right corner to put the hosts ahead in the 59th minute.

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Messi, however, lifted Miami’s level by smashing in a left-footed free-kick goal. Messi was fouled by New York’s Aiden O’Neill to set up the blast.

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Inter Miami got the decider 13 minutes later on Micael’s header from the right side of the box into the lower left corner off a crossing pass from Noah Allen.

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Miami improved to 3-1-1 while City fell to 3-1.

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AFP

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