(Fort Lauderdale) Lionel Messi hit the target in a third straight game for Inter Miami in a League Cup clash with Orlando City that was marred by a 95-minute delay caused by thunderstorms on Wednesday.
In the seventh minute, Messi received a pass from Robert Taylor, dribbled close to the goal and delivered a shot on target just under the crossbar. It was his fourth goal in three games with the MLS club.
That goal gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the round of 32.
Messi moved the ropes a second time in the 21st minute and Inter Miami triumphed 3-1.
Josef Martinez netted Miami’s other goal on a 51st-minute penalty kick and Cesar Araujo netted Orlando’s goal in the 17th.
The game was supposed to start at 8 p.m., but that didn’t happen due to thunderstorms.
Messi and his team-mates were spotted warming up 45 minutes before the scheduled puck-off time. Downpours began around 20 minutes later.
Messi hasn’t had to deal with the vagaries of the weather in his first two League Cup games since joining Miami. He scored the winning goal against Cruz Azul and added two in a win over Atlanta United.
