Lionel Messi scored twice, including a spectacular winner in the 79th minute, leading Inter Miami to a victory in the debut match of interim coach Guillermo Hoyos on Saturday.
Mexico forward Germán Berterame also found the net as Miami triumphed over the Colorado Rapids with a score of 3-2, drawing a crowd of 75,824—the second-largest attendance in MLS history—at Empower Field at Mile High.
This match marked Miami’s first since Javier Mascherano resigned as coach on Tuesday, just four months after leading the club to its inaugural MLS Cup title.
Hoyos, who has a long-standing relationship with Messi dating back to their time at Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, took over as head coach from his position as sporting director.
“This has been a wonderful experience, working with such elite players, including the greatest player in history,” Hoyos expressed during a press conference. “I found myself thrilled many times because football is all about emotion and passion.”
Messi kicked off the scoring by converting a penalty in the 13th minute, later sealing the win with his late goal. After a turnover by Colorado in the midfield, Messi maneuvered near the right corner of the penalty area and unleashed a rising shot that navigated between two defenders and found the back post.
This season, Messi has netted seven goals, tying with Sam Surridge and Petar Musa for the most in the MLS.
When asked how he manages coaching the fellow Argentinian and record eight-time Ballon d’Or laureate, Hoyos replied, “The best coach in the world is actually out there on the pitch. We, as coaches, are simply facilitators.”
Following this match, Miami (4-1-3) remains unbeaten in seven games, rebounding from their season-opening 3-0 loss to LAFC.
Miami midfielder Yannick Bright received a straight red card in the 87th minute for “offensive, insulting, abusive language” directed at the referee, as confirmed by the Professional Referee Organization supervising MLS referees. The PRO report cited that Bright used a derogatory phrase.
“Honestly, I was surprised by the red card,” Hoyos remarked when questioned about the ejection’s circumstances.
Bright was involved in winning the initial penalty that Messi converted to start the scoring.
In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Mateo Silvetti delivered a well-placed cross from the right end line to Berterame, who headed it home to extend the lead to 2-0.
Berterame, who scored his first MLS goal in a 2-2 draw against New York Red Bulls in the previous match, contributed again.
The Rapids struck back in the 58th minute when Rafael Navarro scored. The 26-year-old forward, who netted two goals in last week’s 6-2 win over Houston, now has six goals this season.
Shortly after subbing in for Hamzat Ojediran, Darren Yapi scored on a counterattack to tie the game at 2-2 in the 62nd minute.
Contributions to this report were made by ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press.