The Argentine superstar set up the first two goals at Miami’s Nu Stadium, both from corners, to procure the reigning champions home-field advantage in at least their opening two rounds of the playoffs. Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul racked up three first-half strikes for Inter Miami before Liel Abada’s brace soon after the break sparked a comeback sealed by Rodolfo Aloko’s late strike in a game characterized by awful defending at both ends. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami clung on for second place in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the MLS regular season Saturday.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami clung on for second place in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the MLS regular season Saturday.
Petar Musa, whose FC Dallas were in action later Saturday, would need to score five to prevent Messi becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boots. Charlotte had an early goal ruled out in the Miami clash for handball against Idan Toklomati, who set up Abada after intercepting Casemiro’s weak defensive header back to the goalkeeper. De Paul made it three before halftime, given time and space by Charlotte’s defense to slam a long-range shot low to the goalkeeper’s right and into the side netting. Early in the second half Abada pulled back a goal for the visitors, blasting home substitute Tyger Smalls’ sharp cut-back pass from Ashley Westwood’s incisive aerial through ball.
Though he did not get on the scoresheet himself Saturday, Messi’s 26 goals this season are still almost certain to seal his second straight golden boot award.
That means Vancouver would be the home team if there should be a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup final against Inter Miami.
