- Miami beat Sporting KC 3-2;
- Messi scored in the away win;
- Martino talks about the big win
WHAT CAME ABOUT?
Miami finally got a win after going five games in all competitions without one. They did it in front of more than 70,000 people at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night. A goal from Erik Thommy gave the home team the lead in the sixth minute. Twelve minutes later, Diego Gomez tied the game, and just after halftime, Lionel Messi scored a stunning goal to make it 2-1. Thomas scored his second goal just before the hour mark, but Luis Suarez’s goal 19 minutes from time made sure that Martino’s team won all three points. This was the best way for the Herons to bounce back after losing to Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup last week.
WHAT THERE WAS A TATA MARTINO
“Being first in the standings is comforting, especially with a long week ahead,” he stated. “It was very important for us to get out of that rut of getting ties, losses, making mistakes, and we were able to do that, to regain the feeling that we can win at the end of a long, tough week.”
THE LARGER PICTURE
Miami’s last win was on the road against D.C. United in the middle of March. Since then, they’ve lost to the New York Red Bulls and twice to Monterrey. This win gave Messi’s team a much-needed boost, and they now lead the MLS Eastern Conference.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Again in MLS, Miami plays on Saturday night when they host Nashville, who is in second-to-last place. The last time they played the Coyotes, they beat them in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. This is their second game in just over a month.
