The Argentina playmaker gave the home team the lead in stoppage time of the first half with a magnificent free kick and doubled it with a close-range strike.
Before former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez restored Inter Miami’s two-goal lead and they held on following Cucho Hernandez’s penalty, Crew winger Diego Rossi cut the deficit in Ohio.
Miami’s win guarantees them a first-ever regular season title and the Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the MLS team with the best record. The club will finish first in the standings.
With this trophy, Messi has won 46 awards for both club and country over his illustrious career.
Miami has guaranteed home advantage in the postseason play-offs by winning the standings.
“The first objective has been achieved and now we have to think about what’s next,” Messi stated.
Three games make up the first round; after that, it’s just one game, so anything may happen. However, we have the fantastic benefit of being able to play every game at home—exactly what we were searching for. At home, we are really powerful.
