Messi's Miami survives biggest test yet against FC Dallas

But Miami didn't worry. From its perspective, defensive solidity is irrelevant when Messi's available in the number 10 slot. Miami wasn't concerned about conceding goals. It was most concerned with scoring enough to keep things tight.

"It is true that we count on the best player in the world," Miami coach Tata Martino admitted after the match. "And you can't ignore that."

Messi saved Miami by scoring his third brace in a row, bringing his tally up to seven goals in just four games. His second of the night, a last-minute free kick curled into the top corner, was a perfect mirror image of his first goal for Miami against Cruz Azul. It's a testament to Messi's skill that the hostile away crowd--one that began the match by booing Messi and defending its turf--came around with this free kick to cheer the Argentinian just as loudly as his own supporters.

And while FC Dallas will feel rightfully aggrieved about the way it threw away the victory, Miami's in-game statistics were stronger than they've been all season. Miami held the ball 67% of the time to Dallas's 33% and maintained passing accuracy of over 90%. With Messi up front and Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and teenage phenom Benjamin Cremaschi linking up behind, Miami's offense is finally clicking into gear.

The Houston Dynamo and Charlotte FC will play Monday to determine which of them will take on Miami in the quarterfinals this Friday. Houston has the better record in MLS, but this Leagues Cup is proving that MLS performance isn't always the deciding factor in a one-off tournament game. If if were, last-placed Inter Miami would've been eliminated long ago.