Lionel Messi scores twice vs. Philadelphia Union 3-1

The recent match between Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union showcased Lionel Messi's exceptional talent, as he scored two goals, contributing to a 3-1 victory for his team. This performance not only reinforced Messi's status as one of the greatest football players of all time but also highlighted his significant impact on Major League Soccer (MLS) since joining Inter Miami. His ability to influence games at critical moments has drawn considerable attention and increased viewership in the league, reflecting a broader trend of international stars enhancing the competitive landscape of American soccer.

Messi now has 14 goals and 14 assists, good for fifth in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race. To make it even more impressive, he's compiled those numbers in just over 1,100 minutes (13 appearances).

With six regular-season games remaining, the Herons hold a sizable lead in the Supporters' Shield race. They clinched an Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs spot in late August and remain on pace to set a single-season points record (62 points; 2.21 ppg).

"As we said at the beginning, we know the squad we have, and [winning the Supporters' Shield] is a goal," said Messi. "We are realistic and take responsibility.

Messi sat out Wednesday’s session with a sore throat before participating in the Herons’ session on Thursday.

“Luckily, [the sore throat] lasted just one day. Yesterday, he trained normally. Let’s hope he keeps evolving today,” Martino said. “It’s about taking into consideration all that’s happened to define the strategy.”

Midway through the second half, Jim Curtin made his first pair of substitutions, sending Samuel Adeniran and Alejandro Bedoya in to replace Uhre and Jack McGlynn. The change kept the Union’s signature 4-4-2 diamond, while allowing Quinn Sullivan to play higher up the pitch as Bedoya oversaw defensive responsibilities.

The LA Galaxy beat LAFC 4-2 at home. Mateusz Bogusz put LAFC up in the 4th and Denis Bouanga doubled the lead in the 15th. The Galaxy’s Dejan Jovelic scored in the 53rd, Edwin Cerrillo equalized in the 55th, and Jovelic scored again in the 67th. LAFC went a man down with a red card to Lewis O’Brien in the 79th. Riqui Puig scored for the Galaxy in the 86th minute.

Vancouver shutout San Jose 2-0 at home, going ahead from a Fafa Picault goal in the 35th. Stuart Armstrong doubled the Whitecaps’ lead in the 86th minute.

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Sarah H

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