Inter Miami beat Portland Timbers as Lionel Messi dazzles in first win at new stadium

[p]The 38-year-old Argentine icon confounded the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portland-timbers/bm8usLzB/"]Timbers[/a]' defence [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/inter-miami-0AheRyBg/portland-timbers-bm8usLzB/?mid=rZdvkkLE"]all night long[/a] in a timely reminder of the danger he still poses at the World Cup, which kicks off in less than a month.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] struck first, starting and finishing a slick team goal for the defending Major League Soccer champions on the half-hour mark.[/p][p][b]Messi laid off the ball to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suarez-luis/dUShzrBp/"]Luis Suarez[/a], who found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/segovia-telasco/MiX2hxf7/"]Telasco Segovia[/a] with a through ball. Segovia's instinctive backheel landed back at the feet of Messi, who swept it into the far corner from close range.[/b][/p][p]10 minutes later, fellow Argentine [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-paul-rodrigo/AZ6TTjDC/"]Rodrigo De Paul[/a] romped up the right flank, finding Messi, who played a one-two with Suarez.[/p][p][b]The eight-time Ballon d'Or-winner then slalomed his way into the box, through four defenders, before using the outside of his left foot to tee up German Berterame for a tap-in.[/b][/p][embed guid="3dd85e57-c66f-425a-81c0-a340d3d290e4" url="https://x.com/InterMiamiCF/status/2056179589093667304" social-type="twitter" /][p]Messi missed chances to add to his tally in a slower and goalless second half, curling a left-foot strike from outside the box just inches wide of the post.[/p][p]And he nearly added a stunning free kick deep into stoppage time, denied by a superb [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pantemis-james/4Q1Vd5nP/"]James Pantemis[/a] save, who dove at full stretch and barely tipped the ball away from the top corner.[/p][p]It was the fifth home game at the gleaming, purpose-built Nu Stadium, which was opened to great fanfare last month.[/p][embed guid="bf3d1bd9-3ca7-4222-a232-649bd5ebb19f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SyCsl869h0&pp=ygUDbWxz" social-type="youtube" /][p]Until now, the 27,000-capacity arena had witnessed three frustrating draws and a humiliating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Miami[/a] collapse from 3-0 up to lose 4-3 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-city/rsHkUNCo/"]Orlando City[/a].[/p][p]Despite their recent struggles at home, the win sends Inter Miami top of the Eastern Conference, one point clear of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nashville-sc/84yIDQMe/"]Nashville SC[/a], who have two games in hand.[/p][p]The World Cup, being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, kicks off June 11th.[/p][p]Along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a], Messi - who lifted the trophy with Argentina at the last edition, in Qatar - is set to become the first player to appear in six different World Cups.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/usa/mls/"]Follow MLS all season with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]