Lionel Messi scored his 101st goal for Inter Miami, but the side did not see off San Diego FC. The Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Sunday night ended in a 2-2 draw.
It was Miami’s fourth successive draw in MLS. It was also the first league match under the club’s new coach, Kily Gonzalez, who expressed frustration at letting the win slip by conceding late.
Anders Dreyer put San Diego ahead in the 12th minute, scoring from a Jeppe Tverskov pass. He chipped the goalkeeper, Dayne St Clair, to send the ball into the net.
Messi drew Miami level in the 24th minute from a free kick. Taken from the right, it went into the net off the far post without touching anyone inside the box. It was Messi’s 20th goal in MLS this season.
Only four days earlier Messi had scored his 100th goal for Miami in a 2-0 win over the Mexican club Cruz Azul. It was his eighth goal from a free kick since he joined MLS in 2023, more than any other player in the league over that period.
Miami stepped up the pace of their attacking in the second half. Luis Suarez scored in the 74th minute to put the side 2-1 ahead. A win would have given Miami the chance to go past New England into second place in the Eastern Conference.
But eight minutes later San Diego were level again. Dreyer finished superbly from a ball over the Herons’ defence for his second goal of the night.
After the match Gonzalez expressed concern about Miami’s defending. He said the side had to be more solid at the back and that mistakes of that kind carried a heavy price. He also said that, having taken charge only four days earlier, he had not had the chance to put the team through proper training.
The draw leaves Miami third in the Eastern Conference on 46 points from 12 wins, four defeats and 10 draws. They are 11 points behind leaders Nashville.
Miami play away to Columbus Crew in MLS next Sunday. San Diego host Austin FC on Saturday.