07/12/25 09:08:00
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07/12 21:06 CDT Messi has 5th straight multi-goal game as Miami snaps
Nashville's unbeaten streak with 2-1 win
Messi has 5th straight multi-goal game as Miami snaps Nashville's unbeaten
streak with 2-1 win
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) --- Lionel Messi extended his historic streak to
five straight multi-goal games, and Inter Miami snapped Nashville SC's 15-match
unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.
Miami (11-3-5) won its fifth straight match and moved to fifth in the
Supporter's Shield standings as it aims to win the title for the
second-straight season.
Messi entered Saturday's match as the only player in Major League Soccer
history with four straight multi-goal games after scoring two in Miami's win
over the New England Revolution on Wednesday.
And he wasn't done.
The 38-year-old opened the scoring Saturday on a free kick in the 17th minute.
Then after Nashville tied it early in the second half, Messi put his side back
on top with a steal and score in the 62nd.
Messi now has 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, which is tied with
Nashville's Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) for most in the league.
Nashville (12-5-5), which had won five straight entering the match, had jumped
to third in the Supporter's Shield Standings during its unbeaten streak that
went back to mid-April across all competitions. It was also the longest active
streak of its kind in MLS and Nashville's best stretch in its six-season club
history.
On his first goal, Messi bent a low free kick through Nashville's wall of
defenders --- a spectacular kick from the nine-time Ballon d'Or winner that
gave him 55 goals in 66 Inter Miami matches.
Hany Mukhtar scored the equalizer early in the second half. Andy Njar sent a
cross into the box that Mukhtar headed past Oscar Ustari to tie the match in
the 49th.
Messi then scored with ease after capitalizing on a gaffe by Nashville
goalkeeper Joe Willis, who mistakenly made a pass directly to Messi for the
go-ahead score.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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