'Guard' and close friend shine in Messi's role

Inter Miami erupts late as Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez consecutively score stunning goals, helping the home team defeat Real Salt Lake.

During their away match against Real Salt Lake, Inter Miami experienced over 80 minutes of stagnation before erupting with two consecutive spectacular goals, deciding the match in an instant.

Despite possessing a star-studded lineup with Lionel Messi on the field, David Beckham's team encountered numerous difficulties penetrating the disciplined defense of their opponent. Real Salt Lake played tightly, pressed intelligently, and caused Inter Miami's combinations to lack the necessary sharpness. Throughout most of the match, clear opportunities hardly appeared, leading the game into a tense stalemate.

The turning point arrived only in the 82nd minute, when Rodrigo De Paul unexpectedly shone. From a quickly executed corner kick situation, the Argentine midfielder handled it neatly before unleashing an exquisite right-footed curler. The ball traveled along a perfect curved trajectory, drilling straight into the far corner of the net, leaving the home goalkeeper helpless. A true masterpiece that made the entire stadium marvel.

What's special is that De Paul is not typically known for his goal-scoring ability, but rather recognized for his ball recovery and defensive support role. He is also humorously called Messi's "bodyguard" by fans due to their closeness, but this moment revealed that the Argentine midfielder's technical prowess is far from ordinary. Messi thanks to their closeness, but this moment shows the Argentine midfielder's technical class is anything but ordinary.

Before recovering from the conceded goal, Real Salt Lake suffered a "counterattack blow" just one minute later. Luis Suarez, who had just been substituted onto the field, instantly made his mark. From a quick wall-pass combination near the edge of the penalty area, the Uruguayan striker unleashed a sensational flick. The ball followed an extremely tricky trajectory, rising then suddenly dipping, leaving the goalkeeper merely watching.

Two consecutive masterpieces within 60 seconds transformed a tough match into a convincing victory for Inter Miami. More importantly, this performance demonstrated that the pink-clad team does not solely rely on Messi, but also possesses numerous individuals capable of creating breakthroughs and deciding matches at crucial moments.