Messi brace fuels Miami over Nashville in MLS Cup series opener

MIAMI: Argentine superstar Lionel Messi scored twice to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC on Friday in the opening game of their MLS Cup round one playoff series.
Tadeo Allende also scored for Inter, who took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with game two in Nashville on November 1.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was presented with the Golden Boot award before the game after topping the regular-season scoring chart with 29 goals in 28 games.
He wasted no time in demonstrating how he earned it, putting Miami up 1-0 with a diving header off a pass from Luis Suarez in the 19th minute.
Sergio Busquets had gained control of the ball near the sideline and passed to Rodrigo De Paul.
De Paul found a charging Messi, who handed off to Suarez on the right and pressed forward to connect when Suarez fed it back.
Allende’s header from a pass by Ian Fray put Miami up 2-0 in the 62nd minute.
“We know that playoffs are tough, so we wanted to start with a win at home,” De Paul said. “Hopefully, this is just the beginning.