Messi scores twice, assists in Miami’s 4-2 win over Montreal

FORT LAUDERDALE Fla AP Lionel Messi scored twice and had an assist and Inter Miami broke out of its slump with a - rout of Montreal on Wednesday night Messi scored in the th and th minutes and set up Luis Su rez s goal with chosen nice dribbling in the th Su rez added another in the st The win gave Messi s slumping Inter Miami crew just its second preeminence in its past eight matches Miami last won on May going - - since then and dropping to sixth in the Eastern Conference It has been a surprising plunge for a club that went - - during the regular season in to set MLS records for points and winning percentage and captured the Supporters Shield In its last match Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie Philadelphia and that momentum carried over against Montreal which is last in the Eastern Conference with just one win this season Messi s first goal on Wednesday was set up by Sergio Busquets who delivered a pass to his former Barcelona teammate and set the screen that freed up Messi for his seventh goal of the MLS season Messi then linked up with Su rez to give Miami a two-goal cushion midway through the second half and iced the win on a pass from Su rez just before the end of regulation It was a much needed goal for Su rez who finished last season tied for the second-most goals in MLS but had just two goals entering Wednesday s match Dante Sealy and Victor Loturi scored for Montreal It was also the offensive performance Miami needed before it begins Club World Cup play The Herons have another MLS match at home on Saturday against Columbus before their first contest of the tournament against Al Ahly of Egypt on June AP soccer https apnews com hub soccer Source