Inter Miami continue to struggle in the MLS and, following a last-minute defeat in Columbus, are now 14 points behind leaders Nashville.
Captain Lionel Messi was hoping to leave Miami on a high as he headed home. After all, a minor career highlight – and certainly a highly emotional one – awaits on 6 October: Messi will play his 208th and final international match for the Argentine national team in Buenos Aires. Benin will be the opponents at the legendary Monumental.
The anticipation may have been somewhat dampened by the fact that Messi’s club, Inter Miami, is currently struggling through the MLS. Of their last seven competitive matches, the Florida-based side have won just two – and even suffered another defeat just before Messi’s departure.
Facing the third-bottom side in the Eastern Conference, Miami fell behind as early as the 28th minute: veteran striker Josef Martinez from Venezuela put the underdogs ahead from the penalty spot.
It didn’t take long, however, for Miami to equalise. But of course, that required Messi’s class: just five minutes after falling behind, Miami’s superstar curled a free-kick from an extremely tight angle – and sent it into the top corner (33’).
Thiaré’s late shocker
Messi’s 21st goal of the season – he scores on average every 100 minutes in the MLS and tops the scoring charts ahead of former Union player Petar Musa (18 goals) – did not really give the favourites any greater sense of security.
The match remained thrilling even after the break and entered a crunch time that Miami certainly hadn’t wanted. And indeed, the crushing blow was to follow in the very last second: in the eighth minute of stoppage time, the Senegalese Thiaré scored the much-celebrated winning goal for Columbus.
For the hosts, it was only their eighth win of the season in 27 matches, whilst Miami, despite having accumulated 46 points so far, now find themselves in third place in the Eastern Conference, already 14 points behind leaders Nashville.
