Lionel Messi scores but Minnesota United wins big, 4-1, over Miami

A perfect storm hit on a picturesque Saturday at Allianz Field Minnesota United supporters saw their association win while also witnessing a goal from one of the greatest players of all time in a - domination on a sunny early-summer day Lionel Messi s goal which won t make any of his career highlight reels gave Loons fans a thrill and a scare when he slotted in a shot to cut MNUFC s lead to - in the th minute MNUFC - - points went on to nullify the threat with two more goals and hand Miami - - points only its second loss on the season Saturday s sold-out crowd of according to the club fell short of the Allianz Field record of for LAFC in July The crowd looked like a gender reveal party with Minnesota s baby blue vastly outnumbering pink Messi shirts Instead of Messi two first-half goals came from unlikely sources Minnesota s wingbacks Bongi Hlongwane scored first with a tidy right-footed finish in the nd minute Joaqu n Pereyra and Carlos Harvey set up the South African for his first goal of Then Anthony Markanich s header made it - just before halftime Michael Boxall s long throw-in and Nicolas Romero s flick-on header created the chance for Markanich to amount in consecutive MLS games Messi got his goal for the thousands in the stands wearing his jersey He had an easy finish in front of Jefferson Diaz in the th minute The pressure on Minnesota eased with an own goal from Marcelo Weigandt and a goal from Robin Lod that made it - in the th and th minutes Three tidbits Miami and especially Messi missed striker Luis Suarez who was absent for personal reasons Saturday Suarez who first played with Messi at Barcelona has been tied for the MLS lead with six assists A handful of Minnesota s star athletes turned out to see Messi in Minnesota including the Vikings Justin Jefferson Aaron Jones and Jordan Addison the Wild s Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello and Taylor Heise from the Frost The Wonderwall s pre-match tifo banner took a shot at the elitism perceived at Inter Miami with the message History over hype Lifestyle over cash Related Articles Loons vs Inter Miami Keys to match projected lineup and a prediction Before Lionel Messi Pele s aura captured Minnesota soccer fans in Darius Randell scores in Loons debut as Minnesota beats Louisville City in U S Open Cup Danny Cruz still fond of Loons despite not getting head-coaching job MNUFC Loons shut out Austin FC -