Lionel Messi was once again his unstoppable self, showing a flash of brilliance that capped a memorable Major League Soccer debut.
Messi’s dazzling goal in the 89th minute helped a transformed Inter Miami beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday night and end an 11-match league winless streak.
Fans cheered when Messi started to warm up three minutes into the second half, and a roar erupted when coach Tata Martino signaled for him to take off his pinny and head to the center stripe.
Messi entered in the 60th minute along with former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets. Miami had gone ahead on a 37th-minute goal by Diego Gómez in a buildup started by Jordi Alba, another Barcelona alum on a night Miami gave six players MLS debuts.
The 36-year-old star settled the ball to keep it from defender Peter Stroud, dribbled to his right, and threaded a pass between Andrés Reyes and Daniel Edelman to 18-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi.
As goalkeeper Carlos Coronel moved to cover his near post, Cremaschi beat defender John Tolkin and one-touched the ball back to Messi. He sprinted toward goal and let it bounce off his left foot and into the unguarded net from 3 yards for his 11th goal in nine games for Miami in all competitions.
“Nothing surprises me anymore from Lionel Messi,” Inter Miami coach Martino said.
Miami (6 wins, 14 losses, 3 draws) had not won a league match since May 13 against New England and had just one road victory, on April 29 at Columbus. New York fell to 7-10-8.
“It surprises me and it doesn’t,” Yedlin said. “It surprises me because it’s just unbelievable to see, but it doesn’t surprise me because I’ve seen it.”
