Chinese fans dub Lionel Messi ‘8th wonder of the world’ after scoring two goals for Inter Miami in Leagues Cup round of 16
- Miami, who were losing 4-3 with just five minutes to go, are saved after Messi scores late free kick to equalise
- The 36-year-old had scored seven goals in just four games for his new Major League Soccer side
Lionel Messi’s two-goal game caught the attention of Chinese fans, as he edged Inter Miami to the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup following a late equaliser on Sunday night in Dallas.
A trademark curling free-kick in the 85th minute, Messi’s seventh goal in four games, took the match against FC Dallas to a penalty shootout after Miami had trailed 4-2 with 10 minutes to go.
Messi put Miami ahead in the sixth minute with a clinical side-foot finish from a Jordi Alba pull-back, but FC Dallas responded by scoring the next three goals.
Miami narrowed the deficit through teenage substitute Benjamin Cremaschi, who scored just one minute after arriving from the bench, and a late goal by full-back Marco Farfan.
Still trailing by one goal with five minutes from the end, Messi strode up and curled a free-kick from 20 yards superbly into the top corner, and Miami went on to win 5-3 in the shoot-out.