FOXBORO, MA — The Lionel Messi show made it’s way to Foxboro on Saturday night in front of a Revolution record 65,612 fans looking to catch a glimpse of the living legend.
Messi did not disappoint.
The Inter Miami star scored two goals and added an assisstas Miami cruised past the Revolution 4-1 the final.
It was however the Revs who got on the board first as New England’s Tomás Chancalay scored less than 40 seconds into the match.
Messi tied the game 1-1 in the 32nd minute, taking a through ball from Robert Taylor and hammering a a left-footed strike in past keeper Henrich Ravas.
Then in the second half Messi slipped behind the Revolution defense in the 67th minute, and drove home his second of the game off a a perfect pass from Sergio Busquets to put the visitors ahead for good.
“I don’t think [Messi] had a ton of touches and effectiveness early on in the game,” Revs coach Caleb Porter said. “But that’s kind of him, he lulls you. I thought it was a game where we were doing well, we were defending well, and I just think in those first two goals, we have to do better when they pop a ball through our back four, because we can’t allow a ball to be popped through the back four to find him twice.”
“You need to be focused for 90 minutes. If you only last 45 minutes,” added midfielder Carles Gill. “Messi scores two goals and one assist. So, he’s focused for 90 minutes. Maybe sometimes he’ll need to choose that another player shoots, that [another player] can have the opportunity. He’s the best in the world.”
Messi almost got the hat trick if not for a brilliant stop from Ravas but Inter Miami teammate Benjamin Cremaschi was there to tap in the rebound and make it 3-1.
Messi finished the match with an assist in the 88th minute to former Barcelona teammate and close friend Luis Suárez who entered the game as a sub in the 63rd minute.
With the two goals, Messi became the first player in MLS history to have five straight games with multiple goal contributions. With nine goals, Messi is one goal up on Cristian Arango for the MLS league lead.
New England heads back on the road again next Saturday, May 4 to face Chicago Fire FC.
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