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ISLAMABAD: Football fans around the world voiced sharp criticism of the management of Lionel Messi&rsquo;s tour in India, highlighting chaotic arrangements and the forward&rsquo;s apparent discomfort during public appearances. Fans reacted angrily on social media after video clips showed Messi being surrounded and hugged by a local Indian politician, leaving the superstar looking visibly uneasy.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 708px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1999930651462824174&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2be54c40ba3fcd94a01692bbc121079296bf6530&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Lionel Messi&#39;s tour, December 13-15,&nbsp;India kicked off chaotically as fans threw objects, ripped up seats and invaded the pitch at Kolkata&#39;s Salt Lake stadium. According to Reuters, Satadru Dutta, the event&#39;s chief organizer, has been detained by police, said Rajeev Kumar, director general of West Bengal police. Many fans around the world expressed disappointment, describing the event as poorly organized and &ldquo;chaotic,&rdquo; while the politician&rsquo;s presence and interference overshadowed Messi&rsquo;s engagement with the public.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 625px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1999871162835427746&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2be54c40ba3fcd94a01692bbc121079296bf6530&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In the event, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honored Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff during the ceremony, while Messi and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul were seen standing to the side.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2000384977075306917&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2be54c40ba3fcd94a01692bbc121079296bf6530&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The incident has sparked a wider debate among international football communities about event organization and fan experience, saying the tour failed to deliver a proper fan experience despite high expectations. Messi, however, was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying: &ldquo;It was beautiful to receive all the love and support. I knew it was there, but to receive it first-hand was, well, amazing,&rdquo; adding that he will &ldquo;definitely be back.&rdquo;

Football

Football fans worldwide criticized the management of Lionel Messi’s India tour after chaotic scenes at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium and videos showing him uncomfortable, saying the event was poorly organized and failed to deliver a proper fan experience.

Football fans slam India over Messi tour mismanagement

MIAMI: Lionel Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award on Tuesday after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.&nbsp;Messi became the first player to win back-to-back MLS MVP awards and only the second player in the league to capture two MVP awards after Preki in 1997 and 2003.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m happy to receive this award and be the first in the history of this league to win it in two consecutive years,&quot; Messi said. &quot;I&#39;m very thankful.&quot;&nbsp;The 38-year-old forward, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup crown, scored 29 goals in the regular season -- the fourth-most in any MLS campaign -- and set up 19 others to claim the MLS Golden Boot.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m thankful for this recognition,&quot; Messi said. &quot;It&#39;s always nice to receive individual awards but I want to share it with my teammates. I was also fortunate to win the MLS Golden Boot thanks to the help of my teammates.&quot;&nbsp;Messi, who signed a three-year contract extension with Miami in October, also became only the second player to lead the league in regular-season goals and assists, joining Toronto&#39;s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015.&nbsp;Messi also netted six goals and created nine others in this year&#39;s MLS playoffs, which concluded last weekend with Inter Miami beating Vancouver 3-1 for its first MLS Cup title, Messi delivering two key assists in the triumph to claim MLS Cup MVP honors.&nbsp;It&#39;s the latest award in a trophy haul for the South American maestro that includes a record eight Ballon d&#39;Or titles, three FIFA Men&#39;s Best Player awards, and two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls.&nbsp;Messi was a runaway season MVP award winner with 70.43 per cent of total voting compared to 11.15 per cent for runner-up Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC. Messi took 83.05 per cent of media votes, 73.08 per cent of club votes, and 55.17 per cent of player votes.&nbsp;He became the first MLS player with 10 multi-goal games in a season, breaking the old mark of eight shared by Stern John in 1998, Mamadou Diallo in 2000, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2019.&nbsp;In 2024, Messi won the MLS MVP award with 20 goals and 16 assists over 19 matches.&nbsp;Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023 and helped the Herons hoist the Leagues Cup, a tournament for MLS and Mexican League clubs, that year and take the 2024 MLS Supporters&#39; Shield with a league-best 74 points in the regular season.

Lionel Messi won his second consecutive MLS MVP award after leading Inter Miami to the MLS title, scoring 29 goals, providing 19 assists, and excelling in the playoffs, also earning the MLS Golden Boot.

Miami's Messi wins second consecutive MLS MVP award

FORT LAUDERDALE: Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to their first ever MLS Cup title on Saturday, playing a starring role in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Florida.&nbsp;Argentina superstar Messi provided assists for two goals and helped create another to spark wild celebrations before a rapturous home crowd at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.&nbsp;&quot;This is the moment that I&#39;ve been waiting for, and that we as a team have been waiting for,&quot; Messi, named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player, said afterwards.&nbsp;Miami took the lead after an early Edier Ocampo own goal, but were left reeling by Ali Ahmed&#39;s second-half equalizer for Vancouver.&nbsp;But Messi then laid on an assist for Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul to put Miami 2-1 up before supplying the pass for Tadeo Allende&#39;s injury-time goal that sealed victory.&nbsp;Miami&#39;s first Major League Soccer crown provided glittering vindication for co-owner David Beckham, the former England and Manchester United star who had long dreamed of bringing success to Miami.&nbsp;&quot;There was a lot of sleepless nights, but I always believed,&quot; Beckham said afterwards. &quot;I always believed in bringing the team here, and when I found the right partners I knew anything was possible.&nbsp;&quot;We always promised our fans that we would bring success, and bring the best players, and today we&#39;ve achieved that.&quot;&nbsp;Vancouver, spearheaded by German legend Thomas Mueller, had looked the likelier victor after recovering from Ocampo&#39;s eighth-minute own goal to level through Ali Ahmed in the 60th minute.&nbsp;The Whitecaps almost took the lead moments after the equalizer, with Emmanuel Sabbi&#39;s shot crashing off both posts in the 62nd minute as Miami escaped.

Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title with a 3-1 win over Vancouver, providing two assists. Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende scored, fulfilling co-owner David Beckham’s vision for the club.

Messi dazzles as Miami beat Vancouver to win MLS title

ISLAMABAD: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami reached the MLS Cup final for the first time on Saturday after a 5-1 thrashing of New York City FC in the Eastern Conference playoffs. A Tadeo Allende hat-trick and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia ensured Miami advanced to Major League Soccer&#39;s championship game next Saturday. Miami will host the winner of the Western Conference final, which is being played between San Diego FC and Vancouver Whitecaps later on Saturday. &nbsp;

A Tadeo Allende hat-trick and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia ensured Miami advanced to Major League Soccer's championship game next Saturday.

Inter Miami, Messi beat New York 5-1 to reach first MLS Cup

MIAMI:&nbsp;Lionel Messi scored two goals and assisted on two by Tadeo Allende to spark Inter Miami in a 4-0 rout of Nashville on Saturday to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Argentine icon Messi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, added another goal in the 39th and set up compatriot Allende&#39;s goals in the 73rd and 76th that sealed Miami&#39;s triumph.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;I want to congratulate Leo for the game he played,&quot; Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. &quot;He was the first one who guided us in high pressure. To see him press like that at 38 years old is crazy. We all know about Leo with the ball, but what happened with Leo without the ball today was impressive.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Inter Miami won the best-of-three Eastern Conference first round series 2-1 to book a second round match against FC Cincinnati, who defeated Columbus 2-1 in another series-deciding encounter.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;The team played an almost perfect game,&quot; Mascherano said. &quot;There are always things to improve, but we were at a very high level in all lines, very intense from the first minute, very organized and very good in high pressure.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner Messi ensured Miami would avoid a third first-round exit in four seasons after having fallen to Atlanta last year and New York City in 2022.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;It would have been very unfair to be eliminated at this stage,&quot; Mascherano said. &quot;What happened last year it had remained a bit in the atmosphere and you could feel that fear that it could happen again. And now there is nothing better than looking forward.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;In the night&#39;s other match, 10-man Minnesota United rallied to eliminate Seattle 7-6 on penalty kicks after playing to a 3-3 draw in a Western Conference thriller, booking a second round match against Sunday&#39;s winner between Portland and San Diego.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Miami striker Luis Suarez was absent, suspended one game by MLS for violent conduct in last week&#39;s loss at Nashville.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;MLS season goal-scoring leader Messi took a deflected ball, ran to the top of the box and fired a left-footed shot into the lower right corner.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Messi doubled the margin when he fired home a left-footed shot from just outside the box off a pass from Argentine teen rookie Mateo Silvetti.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Allende&#39;s first goal was from point blank range off passes from Messi and Jordi Alba. He then took a long pass from Messi and chipped a high ball into the net.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;At Cincinnati,&nbsp;Canadian Jacen Russell-Rowe gave Columbus a 1-0 lead in the 61st minute&nbsp;but Brazilian striker Brenner Souza answered in the 67th and 86th to send Cincinnati into a second-round home match against Miami.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s going to be a very tough conference semifinal,&quot; Mascherano said. &quot;We were below in the regular season but in the second leg we played here I was left with very good feelings.&quot; Minnesota moves on At Minnesota, the series was not decided until the 10th round of penalties when Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, injured making a save in the opening round after being inserted for the shootout, clanged the ball off the crossbar.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Seattle equalized at 3-3 on&nbsp;a goal by Jordan Morris in the 88th minute but when the penalty shootout arrived, the Sounders replaced keeper Stefan Frei for backup Thomas.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Minnesota&#39;s Joaquin Pereyra missed the first penalty kick wide right and Thomas hurt a hand diving for the ball but stayed in the match.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Morris hit the crossbar in the second round and in sudden-death rounds Thomas made two saves but Seattle missed both chances to win, Obed Vargas hitting the left post and Osaze De Rosario&#39;s shot being saved by Minnesota&#39;s Dayne St. Clair.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;MLS Goalkeeper of the Year St. Clair scored in the 10th round and Thomas missed to give the Loons the victory.

Argentine icon Messi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, added another goal in the 39th and set up compatriot Allende's goals in the 73rd and 76th that sealed Miami's triumph.

Messi leads Miami into MLS playoff matchup with Cincinnati

MIAMI: Lionel Messi wants to play for Argentina in next year&#39;s World Cup, but he says he will listen to his body before deciding whether he can make that dream come true.&nbsp;The 38-year-old striker for Inter Miami of MLS led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and yearns to be on the field when the &quot;Albiceleste&quot; defend the crown next year in North America.&nbsp;Eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner Messi told NBC News in an interview broadcast on Monday that he will see next year how his body feels before deciding on whether or not he can play in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup and I would love to,&quot; said Messi, who turns 39 next June.&nbsp;&quot;I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there.&nbsp;&quot;And I&#39;m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision.&quot;&nbsp;Messi, who has been playing professionally since 2004, wants the chance for one more star turn on football&#39;s biggest stage.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m really eager because it&#39;s a World Cup. We&#39;re coming off winning the last World Cup and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it&#39;s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions.&quot;&nbsp;Messi, who debuted with Barcelona in La Liga at age 17, joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and moved to MLS in 2023.&nbsp;&quot;The truth is that I like everything about living here,&quot; Messi said of Miami.&nbsp;&quot;I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city, where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot.&nbsp;&quot;But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, that makes us enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows the kids to be themselves and live day to day.&quot;&nbsp;Messi has 195 appearances for the Argentine national team, scoring 114 goals.

Lionel Messi, 38, says he hopes to play for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup but will decide after assessing his fitness next year. The Inter Miami star led Argentina to 2022 glory.

Lionel Messi keeps 2026 FIFA World Cup decision on hold

MIAMI: A rampant Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to virtually seal Major League Soccer&#39;s Golden Boot award on Saturday as Inter Miami roared into the playoffs with a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC. The Argentine superstar came into the final day of the regular season leading the scoring table with 26 goals -- two more than Los Angeles FC&#39;s Denis Bouanga. Bouanga was in action later Saturday, but with an astonishing 29 goals from 28 matches, Messi was poised to claim his first MLS Golden Boot and also staked his claim to a second Most Valuable Player award with a bravura performance that saw Inter rally to clinch third place in the Eastern Conference. They&#39;ll face the same Nashville team in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs starting on October 24. &quot;What can I say about Leo?&quot; Inter coach Javier Mascherano said. &quot;Today he was exceptional, as he usually is. Surely he will be awarded the Most Valuable Player award for what he has demonstrated. &quot;I&#39;m happy for him because he has helped us win the match once again.&quot; Nashville had seen some quality chances go begging when Messi put Miami in front in the 34th minute with a cracking goal from outside the penalty area -- taking a pass from Jordi Alba and making one cut before he unleashed a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Nine minutes later, Nashville&#39;s Sam Surridge grabbed his 24th goal of the season when he headed in a pinpoint delivery from Hany Mukhtar at the near post. Nashville seized a 2-0 lead deep in first-half injury time when Jacob Shaffelburg was there to fire home the rebound of a Mukhtar shot that hit the right post. Messi&#39;s first penalty conversion of the season pulled Inter level in the 63rd. The referee pointed to the spot after a ball deflected by Luis Suarez hit Mukhtar in the arm for a handball in the area. Messi stepped up and rolled an off-speed shot in past Nashville keeper Joe Willis. After Baltasar Rodriguez made it 3-2 Miami in the 67th, Messi completed his hat trick in the 81st with a curling shot through traffic and past Willis. Miami&#39;s Telasco Segovia completed the scoring against a shell-shocked Nashville in second-half injury time. &quot;In the first half, it was very tough for us, we lacked intensity,&quot; Mascherano said. &quot;We defended very deep, and with the ball, we didn&#39;t have many ideas either. &quot;The second half was different. We played in the opponent&#39;s half, took more risks, and finished at a great level.&quot; There was plenty up for grabs in Western Conference games later, with four clubs -- Dallas, the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes -- vying for the last two playoff spots. Thomas Muller&#39;s Vancouver FC, meanwhile, were aiming to secure top spot in the West with a win or draw at home to Dallas. A defeat could open the door for San Diego FC, who would need a victory at Portland as well as a Vancouver defeat.

Lionel Messi scored a stunning hat-trick to lead Inter Miami’s 5-2 win over Nashville SC, virtually securing the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and guiding Miami into the playoffs in brilliant fashion

Messi bags hat-trick as Inter win over Nashville

MIAMI: Lionel Messi made a public appearance in Miami on Friday, attending the finals of a 1v1 soccer tournament, but gave no update on his expected contract extension with Inter Miami. &nbsp;The Inter Miami star who is closing in on a contract extension that will keep him with his Major League Soccer club through at least the 2026 season and likely beyond showed up to watch the global finals of the 1v1 soccer tournament that he helped create and is sponsored by a hydration drink that he co-founded.&nbsp;His appearance came days after he and Inter Miami closed in on an extension, one that the sides have been working on for months and would assure him of being with the club when it plans to open its new stadium near Miami International Airport next year.&nbsp;There were no hints about the contract coming from his team on Friday and he did not address reporters.&nbsp;Messi only spoke behind the scenes to his team about the tournament, with his interview being sent out to members of the media afterward.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is really so nice to see and to share this opportunity providing a platform for the game that is 1v1,&rdquo; Messi said.&nbsp;When asked about the extension, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said he remains hopeful.&nbsp;&ldquo;I hope it happens soon, because I think it&rsquo;s great news not only for the club but for MLS in general, right?&rdquo; Mascherano said earlier Friday at the team&rsquo;s training base in Fort Lauderdale.&nbsp;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s just for the team,&rdquo; Mascherano said. &ldquo;Obviously, for the team, for the club, for the history of this club, it&rsquo;s something unique.&nbsp;But I think for soccer in general in the United States, it would be very, very important news. They could have the best player who has ever played this sport here for a while longer.&rdquo;&nbsp;Messi captained Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 and has been part of qualifying matches with the team but has not formally said that he will play in the tournament when it comes to the US, Canada and Mexico next year.&nbsp;The 38-year-old Messi has 20 goals second most in the league and 11 assists in MLS play this season.&nbsp;He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 on a 2 1/2-year contract, one that was worth an estimated $150 million at the time.Messi was MLS&rsquo; MVP last season, even in a year where he missed 15 of Inter Miami&rsquo;s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or national team commitments.&nbsp;He has helped the team win its first two trophies, the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters&rsquo; Shield for having the best record in MLS last season.&nbsp;Messi and Inter Miami will play DC United on Saturday.&nbsp;Miami opens the weekend sixth in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind first-place Philadelphia but with three matches in hand on the conference leaders and still in the race for one of the top playoff seeds as well as the Supporters&#39; Shield.

Lionel Messi attended a Miami tournament on Friday but gave no update on his contract extension with Inter Miami. Talks continue, with coach Javier Mascherano hopeful the deal will secure Messi through 2026 and beyond.

Messi stays silent on Inter Miami contract extension

MIAMI: &nbsp;Superstar Lionel Messi scored two superb goals and created another as Inter Miami beat DC United 3-2 on Saturday to inch closer to an MLS Cup playoff berth.&nbsp;Amid indications this week from sources close to the club that Messi is poised to sign a contract extension that would keep him in Miami at least through next year, the eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner showed just why the club and Major League Soccer are so keen to see him stay.&nbsp;The 38-year-old now has 22 goals in 22 matches played this season. With his seventh double of the MLS season, he moved to the top of the league scoring list, passing England&#39;s Sam Surridge, who has 21 for Nashville.&nbsp;Miami dominated from the outset on a rainy night at their Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, against a team already eliminated from playoff contention.&nbsp;They took the lead in the 35th minute when Messi produced a well-judged through ball forward to Tadeo Allende, who beat United goalkeeper Luis Barraza with his first touch and smoothly fired into the right corner of the net.&nbsp;Christian Benteke headed the visitors&#39; level in the 52nd minute.&nbsp;Messi forced a pair of quick saves from Barraza before he fired Inter back into the lead in the 66th minute, collecting a pass from Jordi Alba in the box and turning to slot a left-footed shot past Barraza.&nbsp;Two minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute, Argentine Mateo Silvetti was fouled in the box by Barraza.&nbsp;The referee pointed to the spot, and the 19-year-old stepped up to take the kick, but he smashed the attempt off the crossbar.&nbsp;But Messi pushed Miami&#39;s lead to 3-1 with a bit of trademark magic in the 85th, picking up a pass just outside the area and eluding his defender to loft a shot out of the reach of Barraza.&nbsp;It proved invaluable, as Jacob Murrell struck for DC United in the seventh minute of stoppage time to trim the deficit to one.&nbsp;Miami climbed one spot to fifth in the Eastern Conference with 52 points but will have to wait to secure their playoff berth after New York Red Bulls produced a 2-0 victory over Montreal.&nbsp;New York City FC clinched their ninth playoff spot in 11 seasons with a 2-0 victory over playoff-bound Charlotte.&nbsp;Alonso Martinez converted two penalties, and Matt Freese saved a Wilfried Zaha spot kick as City stretched their unbeaten run to three matches.&nbsp;Philadelphia Union maintained their grip on first place in the East and bolstered their bid for the Supporters&#39; Shield, awarded to the top team overall, with a 1-0 victory over New England.&nbsp;Bruno Damiani broke the scoreless deadlock in the 71st minute with a crisp finish from a perfectly placed pass from Frankie Westfield.&nbsp;Orlando denied Nashville&#39;s chance to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory.&nbsp;Martin Ojeda scored two goals and Duncan McGuire added another for Orlando, who are also in pursuit of a post-season spot. Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg scored for Nashville.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, MLS, DC United

The win takes Inter Miami one step closer to an MLS Cup playoff berth.

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