Messi scores 101st goal but Inter Miami let victory slip in 2-2 draw with San Diego
Lionel Messi's goal was not enough to prevent Inter Miami's fourth straight MLS draw, as Danish forward Anders Dreyer scored twice for San Diego FC in a 2-2 result on Sunday.
Match summary
Inter Miami and San Diego FC played out a 2-2 draw at Miami's Nu Stadium on Sunday night in Major League Soccer action. San Diego took a surprise lead in the 12th minute when Danish forward Anders Dreyer latched onto a through ball from compatriot Jeppe Tverskov and chipped the ball over Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Lionel Messi equalized in the 24th minute with a curling free kick from the edge of the area that went untouched through a crowded box, clipped the inside of the post and went in — his 101st goal for Inter Miami and 20th league goal of the season.
Miami dominated the second half, creating chances through Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, but San Diego's defence held firm until the 74th minute, when De Paul set up Suarez to put Miami ahead 2-1. Eight minutes later, however, Dreyer struck again through an almost identical move — another Tverskov through ball finished coolly past St. Clair — leveling the score at 2-2. In stoppage time, St. Clair denied a late effort from Kieran Sargeant to preserve the draw.
Match statistics
According to BBC's match data, Inter Miami had 19 shots (8 on target) compared with San Diego's 8 shots (3 on target), though possession was close — 48.6% for Miami against 51.4% for San Diego.
Context
The result marked Inter Miami's fourth consecutive draw in MLS play. As AFP reports, Miami now sit on 46 points with a 12-4-10 record, 11 points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville with eight regular-season games remaining.
Messi's 101st goal came just four days after his 100th for Inter Miami, scored in a 2-0 win over Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. Earlier on Sunday, FIFA announced that the final phase of the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup will be held at Inter Miami's Nu Stadium in January, a plan discussed at halftime by FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis. Inter Miami next play away at Columbus Crew, while San Diego travel to face Austin FC.
