Lionel Messi delivered another moment of brilliance as Inter Miami clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw against Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.
In a pulsating clash at Subaru Park, Miami found themselves 1-3 down with just minutes remaining before Messi, as so often in his glittering career, lit the spark of revival. The Argentine maestro curled home a trademark free-kick in the 87th minute — his sixth goal of the season — to give his side hope.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Philadelphia had dominated much of the match, with Quinn Sullivan opening the scoring in the 7th minute, followed by a brace from Israeli forward Tai Baribo. Tadeo Allende briefly pulled one back for Miami in the 60th minute, but Baribo’s second appeared to have sealed the win.
Who's that IPL player?However, Messi’s late intervention turned the tide, setting the stage for Venezuelan substitute Telasco Segovia to hammer home a fifth-minute stoppage-time equaliser after slick interplay initiated by the Argentine icon.
The draw was a testament to Miami’s resilience, but the team’s defensive frailties remain a concern. They’ve now conceded 23 goals in their last eight matches, winning just one.
Coach Javier Mascherano praised the fighting spirit inspired by Messi’s leadership.
“We showed character, personality… the guys showed they want to fight to get out of this situation,” said Mascherano. “We are in a bad trend, but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team we were at the beginning.”
Still, the former Argentina star emphasised the need for defensive discipline: “We cannot concede every single corner kick and throw-in. We need to be more focused.”
Inter Miami sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, with Messi’s late magic keeping their playoff hopes flickering.
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