Inter Miami CF secured a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids at Chase Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the sides.
Match Report
Captain Lionel Messi returned and scored the team’s first goal on the night, while Academy product and MLS SuperDraft pick Leo Afonso also scored to register his first goal for the Club’s First Team, in what was his first start for the team. Defenders Franco Negri and David Ruiz registered their first assists of the season in the matchup as well, with Negri playing his first match for the team since an injury sidelined him in June 2023.
The first 45 minutes presented an even matchup with both sides defending stoutly. Inter Miami’s most dangerous opportunities in attack throughout the half came through attempts from Avilés and Gressel. First, in the 17th minute, Afonso delivered a low cross into the center of the box after a great run on the right wing, with Avilés’ subsequent attempt going above the bar. Then, a long-range attempt from Gressel in the 35th minute went just wide of the left post.
It was the visitors, however, that would open the scoring before the half. The Colorado Rapids scored through a penalty taken by forward Rafael Navarro in the 45th minute and the match went into the break with a 0-1 scoreline.
Inter Miami then made a substitution at the half looking to create more danger in attack in the second half, with captain Messi coming onto the pitch in place of Sunderland to mark his return from injury.
Thirteen minutes later, Inter Miami was able to find the equalizer through a strike from Messi. In the 58th minute, Negri delivered a pass to the edge of the box from the left wing, where Messi struck the ball first time to beat the keeper with a left-footed curler to the far post to level the scoring at 1-1. The goal was the fourth for Messi this regular season and his sixth of the season across all competitions, while Negri’s assist was his first in 2024.
Shortly after, Inter Miami would turn the match around with a goal from Afonso in the 60th minute. Messi once again was involved in the play, with the Argentine maestro finding Ruiz with space on the right end of the pitch, where the right back took a touch to enter the box before sending a low cross to the middle of the box for Afonso to send it to the back of the net with a right-footed finish. The goal was the first for Afonso with the Club’s First Team in what was his first Inter Miami start, while the assist was the first for Ruiz this season.
Inter Miami continued attacking relentlessly throughout the remainder of the match and came close to extending its lead. Despite the hosts' efforts in attack and recording a total 18 shots to the visitor’s six, Colorado tied the match in the 88th minute with a goal by midfielder Cole Bassett.
The scoreline then remained unmoved throughout the final minutes and Inter Miami claimed a point at home with a 2-2 draw.
Match Events
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0' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
0' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
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0' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
17' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
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28' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
35' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
41' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
45' Penalty Goal! Inter Miami CF 0-1 Colorado Rapids (Rafael Navarro)
53' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
56' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
57' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-1 Colorado Rapids (L. Messi)
60' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-1 Colorado Rapids (Leo Afonso)
70' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
74' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
78' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Colorado Rapids
Line-ups
Inter Miami CF XI: Franco Negri, Julian Gressel, Shanyder Borgelin, Campana, Drake Callender, Lawson Sunderland, Noah Allen, Ryan Sailor, David Ruíz, Tomás Avilés, Leo Afonso
Subs: Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, Nicolás Freire, Marcelo Weigandt, CJ dos Santos, Diego Gómez, Benja Cremaschi
Colorado Rapids XI: Andreas Maxsø, Zack Steffen, Omir Fernandez, Djordje Mihailovic, Sam Vines, Sebastian Anderson, Cole Bassett, Kévin Cabral, Rafael Navarro, Oliver Love Larraz, Moïse Bombito
Subs: Lalas Abubakar, Lamine Diack, Michael Edwards, Calvin Harris, Darren Yapi, Adam Beaudry, Jackson Travis, Wayne Frederick II, K. Stewart-Baynes