FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It took nearly a month, but Inter Miami has found itself in the win column once again following the most challenging stretch of its Lionel Messi era.
Messi and Luis Suarez each scored two goals and delivered an assist to one another, and Inter Miami beat CF Montreal 4-2 on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium for the club’s first win in 25 days.
Messi assisted the first goal of Suarez’s brace, while Suarez assisted Messi’s second goal of the match, helping Inter Miami win for the first time since May 3 – ending a five-game stretch between victories.
Overall, Inter Miami was amid a 10-match stretch where it lost five times, settled for three draws, and faced mounting pressure before next month’s FIFA Club World Cup.
“I think the most important thing to highlight is that we need to start winning again,” Suarez said in an interview with Apple TV after the match. “We were on a losing streak, and we had to take responsibility for the poor results. Now, it’s about correcting our mistakes, winning games to build confidence, and getting back to being the team we were.”
Added Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano: “We needed to break the negative dynamic.”
Despite the victory and offensive outburst from two of the greatest goal scorers in the sport’s history, the pressure is still relevant for Messi and his cast of former Barcelona teammates – including his first-year coach.
Inter Miami will host the Columbus Crew on Saturday night in the final match before it plays in the Club World Cup opener against Egyptian side Al Ahly at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 14.
Inter Miami will likely be without three defenders – standout leftback Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Luján and Toto Aviles – who each left the Montreal match after suffering lower-body injuries in the first half. Alba and Luján had hamstring injuries, while Aviles injured his right ankle, Mascherano said.
“I’m happy with the victory, happy because there were good moments in the game. The team went back to playing the way we’re used to,” Mascherano said. “Unfortunately, it was marred by the departures of Gonzalo, Jordi and Toto.”
Messi fired a left boot from outside the penalty area, and found the back of the net in the 27th minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. He was assisted by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who delivered the pass and even set a pick on a defender to free his former Barcelona teammate for the score.
Suarez scored goals in the 68th and 70th minutes, and Messi ended the night with his second goal in the 88th minute.
Messi became the first player in Inter Miami history to reach 50 goal contributions (29 goals, 21 assists) in regular season play, in just his 37th game, according to MLS.
Messi has scored 13 goals in 19 games across all competitions for Inter Miami this season, while Suarez has seven goals in 20 games. It was a resurgent effort by both stars — Messi won MLS MVP last year, while Suarez was also a finalist for the award.
“Hopefully, they can continue in this vein,” Mascherano said of Messi, 37, and Suarez, 38. “At the end of the day, they are two of the most important players on the team and you always want them to be at their best.”
Inter Miami, however, was unable to secure a shutout: Montreal’s Dante Sealy (74’) and Victor Loturi (90’+2’) scored for the visitors – which entered the match in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference and second-to-last in the league.
It was Inter Miami’s first win since beating the New York Red Bulls 4-1 – also the last time Messi and Suarez each scored in a match before Wednesday.
Inter Miami vs. Montreal highlights
Lionel Messi scores second goal: Inter Miami 4, Montreal 1
Lionel Messi has scored his second goal of the match, taking a pass from Luis Suarez and tipping it over the Montreal goalkeeper in the 88th minute to increase Inter Miami’s lead to 4-1.
Montreal’s Dante Sealy scores goal: Inter Miami 3, Montreal 1
Inter Miami won’t secure its first shutout in 39 days: Montreal’s Dante Sealy has scored in the 74th minute to narrow the lead.
Luis Suarez scores second goal two minutes later: Inter Miami 3, Montreal 0
Luis Suarez has scored his second goal in a two-minute span, and Inter Miami leads 3-0 against Montreal. Suarez was in the right place at the right time, picking off a Montreal defender in the penalty area, and sending another right boot into the net.
Luis Suarez scores goal: Inter Miami 2, Montreal 0
Luis Suarez capitalized on an assist from Messi, sending his right boot into the back of the net to help Inter Miami increase its lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute.
Montreal’s Giacomo Vrioni misses shot on goal: Inter Miami 1, Montreal 0
Inter Miami found itself fortunate, but unlucky just before halftime. Montreal’s Giacomo Vrioni fired a left boot slightly outside the right post to remain scoreless – those types of opportunities late in halves have doomed Inter Miami recently. But Inter Miami defender Toto Aviles left the match with a lower body injury after the sequence, becoming the third injured defender for Messi’s side in this match.
Lionel Messi scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Montreal 0
Lionel Messi to the rescue. The Inter Miami captain fired a left boot from outside the penalty area, and found the back of the net in the 27th minute.
Messi’s goal was set up by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who delivered the pass and even set a pick on a defender to free his former Barcelona teammate for the score.
Inter Miami leads 1-0, but is playing without two defenders who left the match early due to leg injuries.
Jordi Alba leaves with injury: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0
Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba has become the second player to leave this match with an injury in the first 20 minutes. Alba limped off on his own, but his injury is tough for a club that has struggled in the last 10 matches and has one more match Saturday vs. the Columbus Crew before the FIFA Club World Cup.
Messi attempts header, but to no avail: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0
Messi left his feet to attempt a header, on a pass from Luis Suarez, but he was unable to properly connect on the opportunity in the 20th minute. About two minutes earlier, Luis Suarez was unable to put away a right boot in the 18th minute. His kick soared over the net and into the stands.
Messi gets up after three Montreal defenders converge: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0
Call it a Messi sandwich if you will: Three Montreal defenders converged to defend Messi, and he fell to the pitch after a tackle. But he quickly got back on his feet and resumed playing.
Inter Miami has an early substitute: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0
Inter Miami is making an early change to the lineup: Toto Aviles will replace Gonzalo Lujan, who appeared to sustain a left hamstring injury about 10 minutes into the match.
As for Messi, the World Cup champion is engaged and nearly orchestrated an opening attempt in the fourth minute, but Inter Miami was unable to get a shot on goal during the sequence.
When is the Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal match?
Inter Miami hosts CF Montreal at Chase Stadium on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal live stream?
The match will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Is Messi playing vs. CF Montreal tonight? Inter Miami starting lineup
Messi is in the starting lineup for the Montreal match, Inter Miami announced before the match. Here’s Inter Miami’s starting 11:
Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal prediction
Inter Miami 4, Montreal 1: Expect Messi, Luis Suarez and Inter Miami to get back on track with a multi-goal performance at home. Montreal and Inter Miami enter their match ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in surrendering goals to their opponents. However, Montreal is tied with Austin as the lowest-scoring clubs in MLS with just 10 goals from 15 matches this season. –Safid Deen
Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal betting odds
Inter Miami is the favorite to win at home (-250), while a draw (+400) has better odds than a road win by Montreal (+550). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, according to BETMGM.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
June 5: Chile vs. Argentina, 9 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)
June 10: Argentina vs. Colombia, 8 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)
Messi, Inter Miami schedule for Club World Cup
June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)