Lionel Messi grabbed his eighth goal in five matches as Inter Miami rolled past Charlotte 4-0 in a Leagues Cup quarter-final contest on Friday night.
The Argentine star continued a five-game scoring streak, waiting until the 88th minute to score Miami’s fourth and final goal. Before that, Miami’s goals came from a penalty kick by Josef Martinez, a cross converted by Robert Taylor, and a Charlotte own goal. Martíinez gave Miami the lead in the 12th minute, then Taylor struck in the 32nd.
The own goal, which was orchestrated by Messi, put Charlotte away in the 78th. The win again showed how far Inter Miami has come since adding the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. They controlled possession 62.2% of the time and out-passed Charlotte 702-413. Even Charlotte’s own goal was attributable to Miami’s offensive pressure. Goalkeeper Drake Callender didn’t record a save until midway through the second half.
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“When you have Messi, you know he just needs a chance. He just needs one second,” Charlotte coach Christian Lattanzio said after the game. “You have to be very sharp to stop him from producing the magic he’s been producing since he went to Barcelona when he was 16.”
Since adding Messi, Miami has scored 17 goals in five matches, with thrillers and blowouts in equal measure. Messi has scored eight of those goals and assisted on three of them. Miami and Messi will face the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday.