Staff Reporter.
Lionel Messi became the first player in MLS history with five straight matches with multiple goal contributions (goals or assists) on Saturday as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 4-1.
Messi scored in both halves to lead the Herons to another win as Tata Martino’s men continue to lead the way in the Eastern Conference with a 6-3-2 record.
Messi got his eighth and ninth goals of the young season as he continues to climb his way up the club’s all-time scoring ranks with Gonzalo Higuan’s 29 goals in sight this season. But while the end result was solid for the visitors, the game couldn’t have started off worse.
The Revolution actually opened the scoring as Tomas Chancalay notched a goal in the first minute for New England (1-7-1, 4 points), which has lost three straight matches.
Messi tied the game 1-1 in the 32nd minute, taking a through ball from Robert Taylor and putting a left-footed strike in past keeper Henrich Ravas.
Then, in the 68th minute, the Argentine gave Miami a 2-1 lead, picking up a Sergio Busquets through ball and striking a left-footed shot for his team-leading ninth goal.
With the two goals, Messi became the first player in MLS history to have five straight games with multiple goal contributions. With nine goals, Messi is one goal up on Cristian Arango for the MLS league lead.
In the 83rd minute, Cremaschi gave Miami a 3-1 lead. Messi had the initial shot, which Ravas stopped, but Cremaschi was there to put in the rebound.
Miami took a 4-1 lead in the 88th minute as Suarez put a left-footed strike past Ravas for his seventh goal in 10 games.
Chancalay got the scoring going by chipping a shot up and over Miami keeper Drake Callender off a through ball from Carles Gil 37 seconds into the match.
The goal was the first for the Revs in three games. New England has just six goals over nine games this season.
New England next travels to Chicago while Miami hosts the New York Red Bulls. Both matches are set for May 4.