- Luis Suárez finally found his spark at Inter Miami with two goals and two assists
- Lionel Messi added a brace, while Robert Taylor also found the net
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It took a while for Luis Suárez to find his spark at Inter Miami, but when he finally did, he did so in spectacular fashion.
The Uruguayan scored his first and second MLS goals and provided two assists as he, Lionel Messi and their teammates went on a rampage in Inter Miami’s emphatic victory over Florida rivals Orlando City.
The Florida derby was expected to live up to their rivalry, but the Lions came out looking like kittens against the classics Messi and Suárez, who scored two goals each.
Saturday’s victory allowed the Herons to go undefeated for the first time in their first three games in club history and remain atop the Eastern Conference.
Suarez, who was David Beckham’s most successful signing this off-season to join his former Barcelona teammates Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, came to life after just four minutes.
Luis Suárez finally scored his first goal for Inter Miami in a 5-0 victory over Orlando City.
Lionel Messi also scored a brace during the Heron’s rout of rivals in Florida on Saturday night.
The duo gave MLS fans a taste of classic Barcelona quality.
He produced a stunning first-time finish off Julian Gressel’s low cross and volleyed it into the top right corner to give Miami the dream start.
Seven minutes after breaking the ice, Gressel and Suárez teamed up again with El Pistolero putting the finishing touches on a clever give-and-take with the US international to double the lead.
Suárez could have easily turned his double into a hat-trick in the 29th minute, but instead he opted to send a ball to Robert Taylor, who extended Miami’s lead to a comfortable 3-0 before the break.
Suárez’s cross from the right flank found Taylor open to a failed offside trap by the Orlando City backline and the Finnish midfielder scored a 15-yard shot.
The second half heralded the arrival of a touch of magic from Messi when the Argentine added two goals to Suárez’s haul.
The first was not the best, as the Argentine went over the line after he had swung around the area, but the quality of the second could not be questioned and it sealed the 5-0 victory and first place in the Eastern Conference for Inter . Miami.
Messi joined the scoring onslaught with his first goal in the 57th minute. Suárez’s shot deflected off the crossbar and an unmarked Messi easily finished just inches from the goal line.
A cross from Suárez from the left wing found an open Messi, whose header in the 62nd minute closed the scoring.
Tensions rose when Suarez exchanged words with Orlando players as they walked off the field for the halftime break.
The former Liverpool star scored his double just 11 minutes into the game at the Chase Stadium.
Messi joined the scoring attack after the break with his first goal in the 57th minute.
Messi easily scored the shot inches from the goal line after Suarez’s shot was deflected.
The Uruguayan celebrates one of his goals in the first half with Julian Gressel
A seven-game month for Inter Miami began on Saturday, while Argentina also called up Messi for two exhibitions over a four-day period at the end of March.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino said on Friday that Messi’s playing time will be carefully monitored.
In addition to five league matches, Inter Miami will face Nashville SC in a home-and-away match of the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Nations Cup. Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 and Costa Rica on March 26 as precursors to the Copa América later. this summer.
Shortly before kick-off on Saturday, Jaime Herrera replaced Guiherme Ceretta as central referee after photos of Ceretta on social media created a potential conflict of interest.
