Florida’s Finest Claim Top Honors in MLS Season
In a thrilling match at Lower.com Field in Ohio, Inter Miami CF secured the 2024 Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night. The team’s star forward, Lionel Messi, expressed his joy and pride in achieving the team’s primary objective for the season.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve accomplished what we set out to do,” Messi said in a post-game interview. “From the start of the year, we knew we had the talent and determination to fight for this title. We took control from the beginning and never looked back.”
Messi’s impressive performance, which included two goals, was complemented by a strike from teammate Luis Suárez. The team’s keeper, Drake Callender, made a crucial penalty save in the dying minutes of the game to seal the win.
With 68 points from 32 games, Inter Miami CF has claimed its first Major League Soccer silverware since joining the league in 2020. The team’s meteoric rise to success can be attributed to the contributions of Messi and Suárez, who have combined for 35 of the team’s 72 goals this season.
Messi credited the team’s new coach, Gerardo Martino, and the arrival of key players for the team’s transformation. “We wanted to be protagonists and dominate possession. With important players arriving, we’ve been able to grow as a team and compete in every game,” he explained.
Despite missing several games due to injury and international duty, Messi leads the team in assists and goal contributions, having played only 16 games. This latest triumph adds to his impressive collection of 46 career titles, including 10 league trophies, four Champions League wins, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Supporters’ Shield is one of two major trophies in MLS, recognizing the team with the best overall record in the regular season. By winning the Shield, Inter Miami has secured home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs and remains on track to break the league’s record for most points recorded during the regular season.
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