Inter Miami coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino has praised Lionel Messi for navigating a physical battle and steering his team to a 3-1 win over Orlando City in the Leagues Cup.
Messi opened the scoring after just seven minutes and quickly became the target of some fierce defending from Orlando, who were clearly trying to unsettle the World Cup winner with their physicality.
Orlando grew frustrated with some of the referee's decisions, with both sides overstepping the mark at times, but Messi would let his feet do the talking as he added a second after the break to put some space between the two sides.
"It's like when Barcelona play Real Madrid or River play Boca, these things happen, rivals increase their potential," Martino said after the game. "I have extra motivation and I hope for many more games like these. Without a doubt it will be like that."
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Messi threatened to let the physicality get the better of him in the first half. A shove to Orlando's Wilder Cartagena while trying to take a free kick kick-started a minute in which Messi was also booked for a clumsy challenge on the same player.
At the end of the first half, a foul from Sergio Busquets went unpunished moments before the referee penalised Orlando for a soft challenge on Josef Martinez, sparking further tensions between the two sides, and Messi ramped things up once again when he barged into Cesar Araujo - a challenge which Orlando coach Oscar Pareja felt should have drawn a second yellow card.
"Tonight was a circus," Pareja told reporters. "There was a second yellow on Messi [that wasn't given]. I don't care if he's Messi.
"We were very frustrated and tried to regain our composure. There were some circumstances in this game that shouldn't happen."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Gerardo Martino expects Lionel Messi to face physical battles in MLS after Orlando City win.