Lionel Messi scored two goals including a spectacular free-kick to help Inter Miami draw 4-4 against FC Dallas before winning the tie 5-3 on penalties at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Going into the Leagues Cup 2023 Round of 16 fixture, Messi had scored five goals in his first three matches with Inter Miami. And Sunday, it took him less than six minutes to score No. 6. He scored the opener with only six minutes played to put Inter Miami ahead before notching a brace to rescue Inter, who were trailing 4-3 and make it 4-4. He also scored the opening penalty as Miami won the shootout 5-4 to advance to the quarters.
Messi kicked off the scoring with another spectacular goal. As the clock approached the six-minute mark, Jordi Alba took a pass from Robert Taylor down the left sideline. Alba passed it back to the top of the box, where Messi was waiting. From there, the superstar striker found the back of the net with a scorching one-timer past goaltender Maarten Paes.
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It didn’t take long for Dallas to respond. As the game approached the 37th minute, Dallas’ Marco Farfan took a pass in the left corner near the baseline. He immediately sent it back into the box, where Facundo Quignon slipped it past goalkeeper Drake Callender to the right side of the net. In the 84th minute, Messi sent a free kick over Paes to the back of the net to tie the game at 4-4 and force the game to penalty kicks.