September 15, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi marked his comeback with two goals and an assist, leading Inter Miami to a 3-1 win against Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium.
The Argentine superstar, absent for three months due to national team commitments and an ankle injury sustained in the Copa America final, played the full 90 minutes in his return match.
Philadelphia Union struck early, scoring in the first minute to silence the Ft. Lauderdale crowd. However, Messi’s first-half brace turned the tide, giving Inter Miami the lead and ultimately the victory. The win extends Inter Miami’s advantage at the top of the Eastern Conference to 10 points.
Despite the positive result, Inter Miami faced setbacks. Defenders Hector Martinez and Noah Allen suffered injuries during the match. Additionally, Tomas Aviles and Sergio Busquets received yellow cards, triggering suspensions for the upcoming game against Atlanta United in four days.
For Philadelphia Union, the defeat highlighted defensive mistakes that needed addressing. They now find themselves three points outside the final playoff position, although they have games in hand to mount a late-season challenge for a post-season berth.
The match demonstrated the impact of adding a world-class player like Messi to an already strong MLS team. Inter Miami’s victory came at a cost, however, with injuries and suspensions potentially affecting their midweek fixture against Atlanta United.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
