A stunning long-range strike from Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami to a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City in front of a record crowd of 72,610 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday.
Making his first MLS start since March 2 after overcoming a hamstring injury, Messi let fly from 25 yards with his famed left foot to give Miami the lead six minutes into the second half.
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The home team, cheered on by minority owner and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, played its part in an entertaining evening. Erik Thommy, who also gave his team the lead after six minutes, equalized with an impressive volley seven minutes after Messi’s strike.
But Miami avoided a sixth straight match without a win in all competition courtesy of a close-range finish from Messi’s ex-Barcelona teammate, Luis Suárez, in the 71st minute following an SKC defensive mishap.
The attendance was the biggest for Sporting Kansas City in its 28-year history and also a record for any soccer match in the state of Missouri. It was the fourth-highest attendance for a single match in MLS history.
SKC regularly plays its home matches at the 18,500-capacity…
