Messi makes magical return

Lionel Messi wouldn't be denied for long.

- WIRE REPORTS

LYNNE SLADKY Associated Press INTER MIAMI star Lionel Messi reacts to his late winning goal Saturday night that lifted his club over the Galaxy, 3-1. He also assisted on the insurance score.

The Argentine superstar had missed numerous scoring chances in his return from injury Saturday night against the Galaxy. But in the match's waning minutes, Messi scored the go-ahead goal, then assisted on another to help lift host Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory to chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!”

It was the magic defender Maximiliano Falcón said the team has come to expect.

“We're used to this. You saw what he did, got the ball with a clear look at goal and scored,” Falcón said in Spanish.

Joseph Paintsil tied it in the 59th for the Galaxy, who are the defending MLS Cup champions but are currently last in the Western Conference standings.