In-form Messi hits brace as Miami win 5-3 at Cincinnati in MLS

TL;DR

Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted two more as Inter Miami defeated FC Cincinnati 5-3 in MLS. The victory elevates Miami to second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.

Key points

Lionel Messi scored twice in the match.
Inter Miami won 5-3 against FC Cincinnati.
Messi assisted two goals in the game.
Miami is now second in the Eastern Conference.
Messi has 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season.

Lionel MessiInter MiamiFC Cincinnati

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi celebrates Inter Miami's 5-3 MLS win over FC Cincinnati (ANDY LYONS) (ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) Lionel Messi scored twice and a hand in two others as Inter Miami fought back to beat FC Cincinnati 5-3 away in the MLS on Wednesday. With the World Cup in North America less than a month away, Argentina captain Messi is in excellent form. He has 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season, Miami's latest victory boosting them into second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points. Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a fortuitous rebound off a poor clearance by Matt Miazga. It was 1-1 at half-time after Kevin Denkey's 41st-minute penalty, then Pavel Bucha scored from close range to put the hosts 2-1 up soon after the break. Messi struck again in the 55th minute, finishing off a flowing Miami attack with a left-footed shot from a cross by Rodrigo De Paul. Cincinnati's Brazilian playmaker Evander put the hosts back in front again with a blast from outside of the box in the 64th minute, his seventh goal in six matches. But Messi set up a goal for young fellow Argentine Mateo Silvetti in the 79th minute, with Mexico international German Berterame scoring again for 4-3. Messi forced the final goal in the 89th minute. The 38-year-old launched himself at a cross from Silvetti and struck it with his right foot, the ball crashing off the post and deflecting in off goalkeeper for an own goal. Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos was full of praise for his side. "What they did today was brilliant, against a tough team and on a difficult pitch," he said. "It’s very hard to play here. It’s clear they’re not here to stroll around MLS. "They're here to play, to give everything, and to show the world that football is played here too." gbv/bb/pst

Q&A

How many goals has Lionel Messi scored in MLS this season?

Lionel Messi has scored 11 goals in 12 MLS matches this season.

What was the final score of the Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati match?

The final score was Inter Miami 5, FC Cincinnati 3.

What impact did this win have on Inter Miami's standings?

This victory boosted Inter Miami into second place in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.