After goodbye... the show. Intractable Messi at the Inter Miami Cup

Afeathers four days after the farewell to Argentina's main selection (with a victory over Benin, by 3-0, at a private meeting played at Mâs Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires), Lionel Messi returned, early Saturday to Sunday, to the action, at Major League Soccer (MLS)... and entitled to another show.

La Pulga was once again bet the holder by fellow countryman Ángel Hoyos, but, this time, only ‘opened the book’ in the second half, with two (big) goals, the first which at 60 minutes, when he took two opponents out of the front and shot to count, and the second at 84, with a shot placed at the entrance of the large area, which gave no chance of defense to Sean Johnson.

Luis Suárez, who was also on a prominent plane, scored the two other attempts, at three and 39 minutes, before attending the first ‘shoot’ of the long-time friend, in a clash in which Nu Stadium, in Miami, in the U.S. state of Florida, was once again ‘bending the seams’.

The results (and accounts) of MLS

The last morning was particularly agitated at MLS, as there were victories, not only at Inter Miami, but also at Nashville SC (on Austin FC, 1-4), at New York Red Bulls (on San Diego FC, 4-1), at FC Cincinnatti (on Atlanta United, 1-3), Orlando City (on Columbus Crew, by 3-2), Philadelphia Union (on Real Salt Lake, by 2-1), Seattle Sounders (on New England Revolution, by 0-3), and Charlotte FC (on Dallas FC, by 3-2).

The remaining games resulted in draws between Los Angeles FC and Vancouver Whitecaps, between Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes (both to one ball), between Minnesota United and Houston Dynamo (two), and between Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers (three). The round will not end until 12 a.m. on Monday with the St. Louis City SC-Los Angeles Galaxy.

With this set of results, the Nashville SC remains in the isolated leadership of the Conference. This, with 63 points, plus 14 more than the second ranked Inter Miami, when there are only six days left to compete in the regular phase. In the West, the first place belongs to Vancouver Whitecaps, with 51 points, four more than St. Louis City SC (which will still be on the scene) and FC Dallas.

What's next for Messi and company?

The Inter Miami now turns all the attention to the meeting with the New York City FC, which has an initial whistle scheduled for 12:30 next Thursday, once again at Nu Stadium, knowing beforehand that a eventual triumph will mean a potentially ‘giant’ step towards securing a place in the top4 and consequent advantage of competing for the first hand of the ‘home’ playoffs start.