Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory against Sporting KC on Saturday was a special night for Major League Soccer as 72,610 fans packed Arrowhead Stadium for the occasion. An amazing Lionel Messi goal vs Sporting KC was worth the price of admission.
With the scored tied at 1-1 early in the second half the man responsible for the game being moved from Children’s Mercy Park to the grander NFL stadium scored an incredible goal from distance.
You just can’t give Messi this amount of time and space.
Messi goal vs Sporting KC
MESSI MAGIC AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM ✨
What. A. Strike. pic.twitter.com/E3ax584Nw9— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
Golazo! Messi now has seven goals in eight appearances this season.
Messi also assisted the Herons’ first goal with a great ball to set up Diego Gómez.
Messi's vision. Gomez's finish.
All tied up at Arrowhead Stadium! This game so far... #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/UH54jHwdQs pic.twitter.com/c4MkVaeVSW
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
Saturday’s five-goal thriller offered way more than just Messi’s efforts. Sporting KC forward Erik Thommy bagged two beautiful goals to get the home crowd on their feet.
Despite Messi’s massive draw, the crowd was still heavily in favor of the hosts.
Thommy set the tone with a goal in the sixth minute.
Erik Thommy starts the night with a BANG.
A big early goal for @SportingKC at Arrowhead Stadium! pic.twitter.com/jJkgprk25Q— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
Listen to that roar. ️
Field-level views of the strike from @SportingKC’s Erik Thommy! pic.twitter.com/PaWTRPVN1j— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
The 29-year-old German struck again with a perfect volley off a corner kick shortly after Messi’s goal to tie the game at 2-2.
The Erik Thommy Game™️
Another quality strike to pull @SportingKC level! pic.twitter.com/TTzLHLEXhb— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
It was going to take a moment of brilliance or a major error to decide the contest and it proved to be the latter as a sloppy Sporting KC giveaway at the back led to an easy Luis Suarez tap in goal.
GOMEZ TO SUAREZ!
Miami take advantage of the mistake to go up 3-2. pic.twitter.com/X3AVcMmT6n— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2024
The victory ends the Herons’ five-game winless streak. The win didn’t come without sacrifice as star defender Jordi Alba had to leave the game with a muscle issue. Alba pulled up grabbing at his hamstring in the second half.
Miami’s next game will be at home with another meeting against Nashville on April 20. Sparks tend to fly when those two sides meet.
