Inter Miami interim manager Guillermo Hoyos praised Lionel Messi in glowing terms after the Argentine star scored four times in a Major League Soccer game for the first time in his career, powering his side to a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal on Saturday.
Messi also supplied an assist during the emphatic win, which arrived at an important moment for Miami and ended their five-match winless streak in all competitions.
The 39-year-old put Miami back in front shortly before the interval, added another goal in the 52nd minute, secured his hat-trick in the 83rd and completed an outstanding performance with a stoppage-time free kick.
The former Barcelona attacker now leads the MLS scoring standings with 18 goals this season.
“It is impossible to find the right words for football of such beauty,” said fellow Argentine Hoyos. “There is so much happening that language cannot fully capture it.
“He is always searching for the next goal, move or pass. I do not see him as an ordinary player. The more you examine him as both a footballer and a person, the harder it becomes to describe him.”
Messi, a winner of the 2022 World Cup, also led Argentina to this year’s World Cup final, where they were defeated by Spain.
“This is what having Messi in your squad means,” Miami midfielder Casemiro told Apple TV. “We must appreciate occasions like this because he is a person and a player who continues to create history.”
Casemiro, 34, moved to Miami in July after his Manchester United contract ended. The Brazilian and Messi were longtime opponents in one of football’s greatest rivalries, representing Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, but they now play on the same team.
“Today showed why we need to appreciate him, continue supporting him and keep competing alongside him, because he remains the best,” Casemiro added.
Joveljić nets two goals on Sounders debut in 2-2 draw
Dejan Joveljic scored twice in his first appearance for the Seattle Sounders as they drew 2-2 at home against the Chicago Fire on Saturday afternoon.
Maren Haile-Selassie and Robert Lewandowski each recorded a goal and an assist for Chicago, extending the club’s unbeaten MLS run to five games.
The Sounders have now drawn two consecutive league matches after previously suffering eight straight MLS defeats.
Joveljic, who arrived from Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday in a $6m transfer, broke the deadlock in the 12th minute. After a throw-in on the left, Seattle shifted the play to the opposite flank, where Kalani Kossa-Rienzi found Sebastian Gomez near the corner. Gomez delivered a low cross to Joveljic just beyond the six-yard box, and his first-time finish passed through Elliott’s legs before leaving goalkeeper Chris Brady unable to stop it.
Chicago equalized in the 38th minute. Lewandowski received Andrew Gutman’s pass near the upper-left edge of the penalty area before setting up Haile-Selassie, whose 17-yard effort from a central-left position reached the far bottom corner.
Joveljic struck again in the 48th minute. After collecting Rusnak’s pass just outside the penalty area, he lifted a shot beyond Brady’s fingertips, with the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line. Snyder Brunell received credit for the secondary assist.
Teenager Cavan Sullivan maintains superb form in Philadelphia Union victory
Cavan Sullivan’s second-half goal made him the first 16-year-old in MLS history to contribute to a goal in four successive games, helping the Philadelphia Union defeat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Saturday night and extend their unbeaten sequence to seven matches.
Sullivan scored for the second game in a row and registered his third goal of the season from 34 career appearances, doubling Philadelphia’s advantage in the 50th minute. He also became only the third player aged 18 or younger in league history to produce a goal contribution in four consecutive matches.
Philadelphia went ahead in the 21st minute through Milan Iloski’s career-best 11th goal. Indiana Vassilev and Danley Jean Jacques each collected their first two assists of the campaign across the opening two goals.
Neil Pierre, another teenager, made it 3-0 in the 65th minute. It was the 18-year-old rookie midfielder’s fourth goal in seven appearances, with Bruno Damiani and Iloski providing the assists.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting prevented a New York shutout by scoring in the 74th minute. It was his third goal of the season after he found the net 17 times last year.
Andre Blake made three saves for Philadelphia, who completed August with three victories, two draws and no defeats.
Ethan Horvath recorded one save for New York (7-10-5), who have managed one draw and three losses since opening the month with a 3-2 win against Orlando City.
Minnesota strikes three times in four minutes before Orlando City earns 3-3 draw
Tyrese Spicer scored three minutes into second-half added time as Orlando City rescued a 3-3 draw against Minnesota United after surrendering an earlier two-goal advantage on Saturday night.
Spicer combined with recent arrival Antoine Griezmann and Iván Angulo before netting the equalizer, which was his career-best sixth goal.
Daryl Dike opened the scoring in the 28th minute, and Orlando carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime. His first goal of the season came during his first start and fourth appearance of the campaign.
Griezmann converted a pass from Justin Ellis in the 64th minute, scoring for the fourth time in seven MLS outings to put Orlando 2-0 ahead.
Minnesota then scored three times within four second-half minutes. Kelvin Yeboah and Kyle Duncan created the opening for Marcus Caldeira in the 71st minute, allowing him to register his second goal in five league appearances. Three minutes later, defender Anthony Markanich converted Joaquín Pereyra’s assist for his sixth goal and a 2-2 scoreline. Only a minute after that, Yeboah scored his 11th goal to move Minnesota United into a 3-2 lead.
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