MLS: Messi gives Inter Miami the win in a magical comeback

(AFP) After two weeks out with injury, Lionel Messi returned Saturday with his magic on display in Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS, in which he scored a decisive goal and provided a dazzling assist.

Spanish fullback Jordi Alba opened the scoring in Fort Lauderdale by tapping in a through ball from compatriot Sergio Busquets in the 43rd minute.

The Galaxy, reigning MLS champions, equalized in the 59' with an exceptional individual move by Ghana's Joseph Paintsil on the left flank.

Messi, who had missed the last two matches with a muscle injury, began the game on the bench and was called upon at halftime by coach Javier Mascherano.

In 84', the Argentine star broke the deadlock in a fabulous play in which he was set up in the front of the box by newcomer Rodrigo De Paul, who also started from the bench after missing several training sessions due to visa formalities.

Messi cut back to Uruguay's Lucas Sanabria and settled the ball on his left foot for a shot that sailed in off the post.

Five minutes later he lifted the crowd again when he received the ball from behind and gave a back-heel assist to Luis Suarez, for the Uruguayan striker to make it 3-1.

The Argentine, the season's top scorer with 19 goals in 19 games, enjoyed some shooting ahead of Wednesday's clash against Tigres de Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, the joint tournament between MLS and Mexican League teams.

Although his appearance was decisive, Messi also showed some signs of discomfort during the second half and quickly retreated to the dressing room after the final whistle.

“I didn’t see him after the match. Tomorrow we’ll see how he feels,” said Mascherano of his 38-year-old captain.

"I saw that he clearly wasn't 100 percent comfortable, but as the minutes went by he got looser and looser. We'll have to see how he finished in terms of fatigue," said El Jefecito.

The injury "was something very small. The three training sessions we had were good and the important thing is that he finished the match," he said. "He always wants to be on the field, he is happy there."

The win also renewed Inter's confidence after last week's 4-1 thrashing in the Florida derby against Orlando City.

The Floridian squad moved up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points, six behind the leader Philadelphia Union but with three games still to play.

The Galaxy, meanwhile, sinks further down the Western Conference standings in what is shaping up to be the worst season ever for a reigning MLS champion.

Son's first win

In other Matchday 29 results, South Korea’s Son Heung-min marked his first start and first victory with Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in their 2–0 win on the road against the New England Revolution.

The former Tottenham captain already made his debut in last week's 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire and made an immediate impact by forcing a penalty kick after coming off the bench.

On Saturday, he contributed to LAFC’s victory by providing the assist for the second goal, scored by Canadian Mathieu Choinière on a counterattack in the 90+4 minute.

The first goal for LAFC, fifth in the West with 40 points, came from American Mark Delgado with a shot into the top corner in the 51st.