Lionel Messi He had two goals to give, including a spectacular winner in the 79th minute inter miami A win in new interim coach Guillermo Hoyos’ first match since taking charge on Saturday.
Mexico striker German Bertram The score was scored as soon as Miami was defeated colorado rapids 3-2 In front of a crowd of 75,824 – the second highest attendance of MLS History – At Empower Field at Mile High.
It was Miami’s first game since Javier Mascherano stepped down as coach on Tuesday, four months after leading the club to its first MLS Cup title.
Hoyos, whose relationship with Messi dates back more than 20 years to when they worked at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, was put in charge of the first team for “upcoming matches”, moving from his current role of sporting director.
“It has been a beautiful experience because there are players of extremely quality, including the greatest player in history,” Hoyos told a news conference.
“I was excited on many occasions, because football is really about that emotion and passion.”
Messi opened the scoring by converting a penalty kick in the 13th minute, before converting a late goal. After a Colorado turnover near midfield, Messi cut back near the right corner of the penalty box and hit a rising shot that split a pair of defenders and slid inside the back post.
Messi has seven goals this season, which is equal to Sam Surridge And peter moses For most in MLS.
Asked what he thought about coaching his fellow Argentine and record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Hoyos replied: “The best coach in the world is actually present on the field. We coaches are only guides.”
Miami (4-1-3) is now unbeaten in seven games and has not lost since the start of the season 3-0 to defeat LAFC.
Yannick Bright He was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute for using “offensive, abusive, insulting language overheard by the referee”, the Professional Referees Organization, which oversees MLS referees, confirmed to ESPN. According to the PRO Pool report, Bright used the phrase “bitch, ass, n—a”.
When asked about the reasons for the removal, Hoyos said, “To be honest, I don’t know, and I was certainly surprised by the departure.”
Bright conceded the penalty joshua atencio And Messi started the scoring by scoring from the spot.
matteo silvettiAlong the line on the right, an arcing cross was played to the back post, where Bertram scored with a header in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time to make it 2–0.
Bertram scored his first goal in MLS last time out 2-2 tie with New York Red Bulls.
rafael navarro Scored a goal for Rapids in the 58th minute. The 26-year-old forward scored two goals in one 6-2 victory over houston Last time out he has six goals this season.
darren yappy subbed for hamzat ojediran And, moments later, a counter-attack in the 62nd minute made the score 2–2.
ESPN’s Lizzie Becharano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
