Columbus, Ohio, supplied the late drama as Columbus Crew struck in the 99th minute to beat Inter Miami 2-1, extending the Florida club’s winless MLS sequence before Lionel Messi leaves for Argentina duty.
Jamal Thiaré scored from close range after goalkeeper Roco Ríos spilled a shot by Spain’s Brais Méndez deep into second-half stoppage time. The result came after Miami had been reduced to 10 men when Santiago Morales collected two yellow cards within three minutes.
Quick facts
- Columbus Crew beat Inter Miami 2-1.
- Josef Martínez opened the scoring in the 28th minute.
- Lionel Messi levelled with a direct free-kick five minutes later.
- Jamal Thiaré scored the winner in the 99th minute.
- Inter Miami are without an MLS victory in five matches: four draws and one defeat.
- Miami remain second in the Eastern Conference on 46 points, 14 behind Nashville.
Miami had called for a penalty shortly before former Venezuela international Martínez put the visitors ahead. He found the corner with a diagonal finish from around the penalty spot in the 28th minute.
Columbus, coached by Cristian “Kily” González, answered quickly. Messi’s free-kick from the right flank travelled through to the far post and caught Ríos out, restoring parity in the 33rd minute.
The Crew carried the greater threat as the match moved toward its closing stages, while Miami’s task became harder following Morales’ dismissal. The breakthrough finally arrived when Méndez tested Ríos and Thiaré reacted fastest to the loose ball.
It leaves Messi and Inter Miami still chasing form in the league despite their strong conference position. The Argentine will remain with the club before travelling to join the national team for his farewell appearance with Argentina, a friendly against Benin scheduled for 6 November.
