Lionel Messi scored two goals, and German Berterame added another with a header, leading Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in Denver.
Messi netted the decisive goal in the 79th minute. After receiving the ball near midfield, he advanced into the box unopposed and fired a shot into the upper left corner, giving Miami a 3-2 lead.
For Colorado (4-4-0, 12 points), Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi each found the net during the match, which attracted 75,824 fans, making it the second-largest crowd in MLS history.
Miami (4-1-3, 15 points) opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s pass was intercepted by Yannick Bright. Josh Atencio received a yellow card after video review for a foul.
Messi took the resulting penalty kick and scored by sending a shot straight down the middle, putting Miami ahead 1-0.
Colorado nearly equalized when midfielder Wayne Frederick attempted a lob shot. Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair rushed out beyond the penalty area to clear the ball, but Frederick’s shot went over the empty net.
In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Miami doubled its advantage to 2-0, executing a series of passes deep in the attacking third. Messi started the play with a precise touch pass to Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul set up Mateo Silvetti on a run to the boundary line. Silvetti delivered a curling cross to the front of the goal where Berterame jumped above the Colorado defense and scored with a header beneath the crossbar.
Navarro’s goal in the 58th minute reduced Miami’s lead to 2-1. He made a run from midfield and beat the defense with a step-over move, scoring from inside the box with a shot tucked inside the left post, past a diving St. Clair.
In the 62nd minute, substitute Yapi, receiving a direct pass from Lucas Herrington, fired a powerful shot past St. Clair to level the match.
Despite playing with ten men after Bright received a red card in the 87th minute, Miami managed to secure the win.