Defender Jordi Alba opened the scoreline before late goals from Messi and forward Suarez allowed the team to record its first-ever victory over the reigning MLS Cup champions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inter Miami started the match applying pressure to the visitors through several combinations between Picault, Allende, Su\u00e1rez, and Segovia. The latter came close to opening the scoreline after a great collective play was finished off by the Venezuelan from a backheel cross from Suarez. The goal, though, was overruled due to an offside position from Segovia in the play\u2019s build up, Inter Miami reports.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Nearing the end of the first half, a precise line-breaking ball by Busquets found Alba, who cut through the Galaxy\u2019s defense. The defender found himself at the edge of the six-yard box and clinically placed the ball to the goalkeeper's first post to give Inter Miami the lead into the break.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The second half saw the introduction of Argentine duo Messi and Rodrigo de Paul.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Galaxy then equalized in the 59th minute through a goal from Joseph Paintsil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inter Miami continued generating chances during the second half. In the 84th minute, de Paul played an unmarked Messi right outside the box, who dribbled past a defender and slotted a grazing left-footed shot to reclaim the lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Remarkably, the goal saw Messi become the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 career goals, doing so in just 44 matches (Josef Mart\u00ednez, 42).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inter Miami continued generating chances during the second half. In the 84th minute, de Paul played an unmarked Messi right outside the box, who dribbled past a defender and slotted a grazing left-footed shot to reclaim the lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Notably, with the goal Suarez took his tally to 6 this regular season. The assist, meanwhile, was the 10th for Messi in MLS play in 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n