Miami – In a dazzling display of skill and scoring power, Inter Miami defeated CF Montreal 7‑1 on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium. Lionel Messi, the league’s reigning Golden Boot winner and MVP, recorded his first four‑goal game in MLS, adding an assist to the tally.
Messi’s game‑changing impact
Messi opened the scoring in the 40th minute, converting a free kick to give Miami a 1‑0 lead. He struck again in the 52nd minute, extending the advantage to 3‑1. The Argentine maestro capped the night with two late goals in the 83rd minute and deep into stoppage time, both from set pieces, sealing a 7‑1 rout. His performance moved him to within two goals of league leader Petar Musa of FC Dallas.
Supporting contributions
Inter Miami’s attack was a team effort. Carlos Casimiro headed in Telasco Segovia’s corner in the 20th minute for the opening goal, marking Casimiro’s first strike in his sixth league appearance. Segovia recorded his ninth assist of the season, a career best.
Montreal briefly equalized in the 37th minute when Fabian Herbers netted his first goal of the campaign. However, Miami quickly responded, with Luis Suárez scoring his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Messi’s 10th assist, to push the lead to 4‑1 in the 80th minute.
Rookie Alexander Shaw added a sixth goal for Miami in the 89th minute, his first goal after three appearances and just 37 minutes of play.
Goalkeeping and defensive notes
Miami’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair recorded three saves, maintaining a solid 12‑4‑6 record for the season. Montreal’s keeper Thomas Gillier made five saves despite the heavy defeat.
The victory marks Miami’s fifth straight win over Montreal, the previous triumph coming on a 1‑0 road win in late July, also secured by a Suárez penalty.
Implications for the season
Inter Miami closed August with a 1‑2‑2 record, but the dominant win against Montreal underscores the team’s offensive firepower and the influence of its marquee signings. The result also keeps Miami in contention for a top‑four finish as the MLS regular season progresses.
Fans left the stadium buzzing about Messi’s historic night, a performance that not only thrilled local supporters but also reinforced Miami’s reputation as a premier destination for world‑class soccer talent.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
