da bet vitoria： Inter Miami boss Tata Martino hailed talisman Lionel Messi after his dazzling display in the 6-2 win over New York Red Bulls.
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Stunning second-half displaySuarez scored hat-trickMessi breaks two MLS recordsWHAT HAPPENED?
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi contributed to all six of his side’s goals in a quite remarkable second half, scoring one and assisting five. Three of the Argentine superstar’s assists were for Luis Suarez as he claimed his first Major League Soccer hat-trick, while Matias Rojas twice benefitted from Messi’s creative genius.
Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season PassStream nowAdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi’s latest heroics in Florida mean Inter Miami sit top of the Eastern Conference table with 24 points from 12 games. Martino’s men have also netted a division high 32 goals, with Messi scoring and assisting in each of the last six league matches and boasting an overall record of 10 goals and 12 assists this term.
WHAT MARTINO SAID
He told reporters: "All [goals] were fundamental to the game, but Leo did something historic tonight with five assists and one goal. But I can't forget Suarez's three goals and Rojas' two goals. The first, well both, but the first Rojas goal was amazing. But because of the technical aspect of Leo on the assist I will choose Luis Suárez's scissor goal as my favorite.
"Messi had exceptional games in Barcelona, during my time with him. But I also remember a semifinal with Paraguay in the Copa America in Chile, where he didn't score a goal and he was still the best player on the field. In Barcelona, he had a game against Valencia where we were losing 2-0 and then won 3-2 with three goals from him. And there was another against Sevilla where we were losing 1-0 and then he scored three goals and we won 4-1. I always say this, and it's redundant at this point, but he always does something new. To have involvement in all six goals of a team's 6-2 is something that will be difficult to see again.
"He's not the key component just because of this game. He always is. Today, the association between Messi and Luis in the second half worked well, like old times. When they find each other, the team is able to back them up in the game, and when we find space, they are very influential in the game."
DID YOU KNOW?
Messi’s performance in Fort Lauderdale against Red Bulls saw him set two new MLS records for most assists and most goal contributions in a single match. "It's easier with Leo. Obviously we know each other, and sometimes you'll notice we know where the other is and do movements without having to look at one another. It's good for the team," Suarez said.