TORONTO (AP) – Lionel Messi had a goal and two assists to become the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 goal contributions, and Inter Miami doubled down on Toronto FC 4-2 on Saturday, extending its winning streak to six.
Messi had 59 goals and 41 assists in 64 regular season games, breaking the previous record of 95 goals set by Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco. Messi has played in 101 games in all competitions, scoring 87 goals and providing 57 assists.
Rodrigo De Paul also had a goal and two assists, helping Inter Miami bounce back from a 4-3 home loss to Orlando City in which they led 3-0. Since moving to the new stadium, the club has won 0, lost 1, and lost 3 at home.
De Paul scores a goal with a free kick. Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute. The midfielder surrounded the ball as it bounced off the player’s wall and fired his second shot off the left post and into the net.
Messi usually takes all direct free kicks for the club, but ceded it to De Paul. De Paul scored his third career goal all year in his 21st appearance in two seasons.
Messi and De Paul provided their third assists of the season as Luis Suarez scored his second goal in the 56th minute for a 2-0 lead. This was Suarez’s 32nd goal in 63 career games.
Defender Sergio Reguilon made his third appearance, coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute, and scored his first goal with an assist from Messi in the 73rd minute, giving them a three-goal lead.
De Paul sets up Messi In the 75th minute, he scored his 9th goal, just one point away from the league lead, making it 4-0. De Paul appeared in 11 games last season and had the first four assists and three assists.
Toronto avoided a shutout with two goals from rookie Emilio Aristizábal. The 20-year-old scored in the 82nd and 90th minutes, taking his tally to three goals in his first 11 games. Daniel Saloy recorded his fourth assist on the opening goal. Kobe Franklin had his second assist of the season, and fellow defenseman Walker Zimmerman had his first assist, contributing to Aristizábal’s two-point goal.
Dane St. Clair finished with three saves for Inter Miami (6-2-4).
Luka Gavran stopped two shots for Toronto (3-4-5).
The game was interrupted several times as fans jumped onto the field in an attempt to get close to Messi.
to the next
Miami: Visits FC Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Toronto: Visits Charlotte FC on Saturday.
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