00:02Berta D'Ame back from national team duty with Mexico and Luis Suarez turning back the clock.
00:08Tai Barribo returns from national team duty, their leading goal scorer.
00:12We expect to see him alongside Jackson Hopkins this evening.
00:16World Cup champion with Argentina in 2022.
00:21We sensed it in the hours prior to first kick.
00:25We sensed it around the team hotel earlier today.
00:28Messi fans from seemingly all corners and donning the pink.
00:33In the box, the ball never arrived.
00:35Comes back here, Jackson Hopkins for the black and red.
00:38Looks to play this across.
00:42Collision at the top of the box.
00:44Inter-Miami will run this into safe haven as the crowd comes alive.
00:51Berta D'Ame slowed and plays this back towards the center line.
00:58Berta D'Ame appeared twice from Mexico in the recent international window.
01:02First touch for Lionel Messi.
01:04The decibel level goes up.
01:06Tracked by Kaisuke Kodakawa.
01:12Service from the far side.
01:14Berta D'Ame ahead to it.
01:15Suarez!
01:17What a finish!
01:19Luis Suarez gets the party started.
01:22Just over two minutes in.
01:25His 14th of the year.
01:27Inter-Miami shot out of a cannon.
01:29They've got the lead.
01:31What they did really well.
01:32They switched the play from right to left.
01:34And then all of a sudden, all the DC United plays.
01:36They're going towards the far side.
01:38It's such a vital touch, though.
01:40As you see the cross comes in.
01:41It's a huge touch from Berta D'Ame.
01:43That then takes it to Suarez.
01:44And it's a lovely finish.
01:46Right into that far post.
01:47He knows exactly what he's doing.
01:49People may say that he's missing it.
01:51But a player of his quality knows exactly what he's doing.
01:55And what a start for Inter-Miami.
01:57The DC cause.
01:59Looking to take care of business on their own.
02:03No-no to work this ahead.
02:06Kijima on the move.
02:08Jose Kijima sends this towards goal.
02:10And it's stopped by Dane St. Clair.
02:12Intercepted.
02:13Mikael gave this away, though.
02:16Jose Kijimi.
02:18Burribo.
02:19Gets him.
02:21Good acceleration on that shot.
02:23On the volley.
02:24And it's stopped by St. Clair.
02:25Foul is called.
02:26It'll come back.
02:27They're causing Inter-Miami problems.
02:29Inter-Miami looking for Messi.
02:32Woken up.
02:32Settled.
02:34Nevertheless.
02:35Tia Scalazza.
02:37His 10th endless start.
02:42This year for the midfielder.
02:43Wearing number 80.
02:44This ball is played ahead.
02:46Suarez hits it first time.
02:47Saved that time by Sean Johnson.
02:50A little bit more forceful.
02:52He didn't even go into the challenge then.
02:54Suarez.
02:54He has a presence of mind to get himself in a good position.
02:56Good strike.
02:57Comfortable enough save, though, from Johnson.
03:0137-year-old.
03:03Missing a big weapon offensively.
03:05Release.
03:07Flippdianov.
03:09Out with a leg injury.
03:10Burribo.
03:10But I'm in with a shot.
03:12Didn't miss by much.
03:19He's on seven goals across.
03:21It falls for Peklov.
03:22The edge of the 18.
03:24Gets a shot away.
03:25It is way wide.
03:27Coming back the other way.
03:35Messi delivered the pass.
03:37Hitting it first time.
03:38Return for Lionel Messi.
03:39His shot saved made by Johnson.
03:41Still alive ball.
03:42And there is Luis Suarez.
03:44Second of the night to clean it all up.
03:54Once again.
03:55You just see Suarez drops off.
03:57Commits the centre-back.
03:58Bartlett can't get back in.
04:00Goes back to Messi.
04:01Initially, it's a great shot from John Ursa.
04:03A great save.
04:04This is doable for Lionel Messi.
04:06Who would bet no?
04:07Messi.
04:08Plucked away.
04:09By Johnson.
04:12The anticipation is always there when he's on a set piece.
04:15Even when it's from that distance.
04:17Because.
04:18The magic that he has in his boots.
04:27Gazzel.
04:28For a Messi team with him on the field.
04:30To go five without a win.
04:32They're up by two.
04:33In good position here.
04:34What does DC have to do to change the tone of the match?
04:36I just think they have to.
04:39They don't need to change too much.
04:41Because what they did really well, I thought.
04:43They got the ball forward well.
04:45What I would say potentially is use that width a little bit more.
04:48Get the crosses into the box.
04:49Because that is where the space is.
04:51When you're playing against a Central Miami team.
04:52They defend narrow.
04:54And the fullbacks are high.
04:55So if you can get in behind the fullbacks.
04:57You're going to get opportunities.
04:59And you know.
04:59I know it's 2-0.
05:01But we know that Miami do not change the way that they play.
05:04They don't look to hang on to a lead.
05:06They look to advance it and get more goals.
05:08So that means the opposition.
05:10They're always going to get chances.
05:14Players tangled up for a little bit more.
05:16On how DC gets back in this game.
05:18Downstairs we go.
05:19Andrew Wiebe.
05:20What do you have?
05:20Well, Steve and Danny.
05:22Cody Mazzell, the goalkeeper coach for DC.
05:24Broadly agreed with your take.
05:25He said our game plan wasn't the issue.
05:27The other team just had better football in spaces that matter the most.
05:30He said the turning point here has got to be set pieces to get them back in the game.
05:34And then hopefully they can use Miami's aggression against them.
05:37Speaking of aggression.
05:38Here comes Messi.
05:39Trying to find another gear.
05:40There's DePaul.
05:41Stays with it.
05:42Plays this.
05:43Top of the box.
05:44And a shot blocked away.
05:46Still a live ball in the 18.
05:48Suarez is having a night.
05:50Opps to play this across.
05:52And there's the third.
05:53Lionel Messi with the finish in front.
05:55And just like that the lead grows.
05:58At least one goal contribution from Messi now.
06:01Well, the half-time game plan is now out the window.
06:03But I just want to talk about Suarez in this situation.
06:05It's absolutely brilliant.
06:07From goal scorer to goal creator.
06:09Plays it to Messi.
06:10Messi knows exactly what he's doing.
06:12But he's brilliant from Suarez.
06:13Has that little look up.
06:15Sees where Messi is.
06:17And this is a really good finish as well.
06:19Because Messi knows that if he gets his left foot to it.
06:22He can play it through the legs of the defender.
06:25And Johnson cannot even move.
06:28So what may look like a relatively simple finish is far from that.
06:33But players like Messi.
06:34They make the difficult.
06:37Look so.
06:38Because they're trying to get rid of the ball.
06:42Messi on the free kick.
06:44Looking for a third.
06:45And Suarez still alive.
06:46Ball taken here.
06:48Johnson able to repel that away.
06:50And nearly it was a four goal.
06:52TNT.
06:52It's just a really quick free kick.
06:54Suarez on the same wavelength as Messi.
06:57It's been a really good save from Johnson as well.
06:58Then comes off the post.
07:00It's really, really quick thinking from Messi.
07:03Suarez on the same page as well.
07:05It's been a really good instinctive save from Johnson.
07:07For Akara to work this ahead.
07:09Here's DeZell.
07:10Looking for some way to get D.C. United back in this.
07:15Peglo on the far side.
07:20Plays it across.
07:21No, no.
07:21He'll give it a go.
07:22Testing.
07:23Dane St. Clair.
07:24But fires wide.
07:26Box.
07:27Some contact.
07:28He's brought down.
07:29Taken away.
07:30And the Herons see Bertadame work this to the foot of Suarez.
07:34And now DePaul for Messi.
07:37As the attack so often goes through that right side.
07:40Lionel Messi continues on.
07:42Ranging off the post.
07:45Messi once again on the right side.
07:47Just finds that space.
07:48Looking for the far corner where the post comes to the rescue for D.C.
07:50You talk about Messi.
07:53Bertadame progress halted.
07:55Here's Kojima.
08:00DeZell is taken away.
08:03Galatza.
08:04To dispossess him.
08:05And now into Miami.
08:07In the build up again.
08:08Taken here.
08:09Messi middle of the park.
08:22Cristian Gonzalez set to go to his bench for the first time.
08:25Messi.
08:25Beautiful move.
08:26Lionel Messi off the left foot.
08:28Oh my goodness.
08:29What a goal.
08:32What a goal.
08:45Good luck in trying to stop the unstoppable.
08:48And once again we talk about Messi.
08:51We talk about how good he is.
08:52We talk about his skill.
08:53But let's mention his strength.
08:55Because initially when he picks the ball up.
08:57He could have gone down there and got a free kick.
08:58But he has one aim.
09:00And that is to find the back of the net.
09:02His desire.
09:03His determination.
09:04His commitment.
09:06And he just makes the game look so, so simple.
09:12What an incredible player.
09:14Continuing to roll.
09:15And Philadelphia.
09:17They're not going to give up on home field advantage in a first round series.
09:21Not the way they're going.
09:22And like I say, they will not fear anybody.
09:25I think teams do not want to play them at the minute.
09:27And then you look a little bit further down as well.
09:29Teams jostling to try and get themselves into those playoff positions.
09:33That is a titanic matchup in midweek now.
09:35Chicago, Philadelphia later on.
09:40Peltola gives it a go.
09:41What a strike.
09:42St. Clair diving but it's off frame.
09:45It's a good strike.
09:482025 MLS goalkeeper of the year.
09:50They're signing with Miami as a free agent.
09:53Seven seasons in Minnesota.
09:56Middle of the park.
09:57Bertad Abe.
10:06Del Arza.
10:09Now Messi gives it a go.
10:11Fires.
10:12Didn't miss by much.
10:14Looking for his third of the night.
10:19Messi again.
10:22Return for Messi.
10:23Top of the box.
10:23Broken up by DC.
10:25He knows what Miami wants here.
10:27Segovia navigates some black and red traffic well.
10:30Now Shaw to work this ahead.
10:32Ian Frey.
10:33Far side.
10:34Frey looking to get the cross away.
10:36And Miami hits the outside of a post that was Bertadane.
10:41Looking to put it home.
10:42He must wonder what he has to do to put the ball into the back of the net.
10:47Coming up with a major performance in their quest.
10:52To finish as high as possible in the Eastern Conference.
10:56Four or five.
10:57You're in the back of the B and 25.
10:57Do you have any questions.
10:57Do you have any questions?
10:57Bo Shoals.
