Columbus SC 2-3 Inter Miami CF: Messi’s brace secures regular season title

Messi scores twice, Suarez nets, and Camacho sees red as Inter Miami edges Columbus Crew 3-2 to lock up Regular Season Title

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Highlight from Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

25' Highlight from Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

28' Match Event for Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

35' Match Event for Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

39' Highlight from Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

45' GOAL! Columbus SC 0-1 Inter Miami CF (L. Messi)

46' GOAL! Columbus SC 1-2 Inter Miami CF (Diego Rossi)

48' GOAL! Columbus SC 1-3 Inter Miami CF (Luis Suárez)

50' GOAL! Columbus SC 0-2 Inter Miami CF (L. Messi)

53' Match Event for Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

60' Penalty Goal! Columbus SC 2-3 Inter Miami CF (Cucho Hernández)

63' Red Card! Sent Off

76' Highlight from Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

84' Penalty Missed!  (Cucho Hernández)

93' Match Event for Columbus SC vs Inter Miami CF

Match Report

Lionel Messi scored twice and Luis Suarez got the winner as Inter Miami beat 10-man Columbus Crew 3-2 to claim the Supporters' Shield in MLS.

After three straight draws, Miami needed a victory to guarantee they got their hands on the shield, which is awarded to MLS' best team in the regular season, and they got over the line in frantic fashion on Wednesday.

Miami's goals came between the 45th and 48th minute, with Messi, who had not recorded a direct goal contribution in any of his last three away appearances, netting the opening two.

Having already teed up a Diego Gomez goal that was disallowed, Messi engineered space in the box to drill home and break the deadlock, before doubling his tally five minutes later with a sensational free-kick.

Diego Rossi dragged the Crew back into it straight after the restart, but parity lasted just two minutes as Suarez capitalised on an error from Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

Cucho Hernandez, who had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, converted a penalty to reduce the arrears yet again, only for the Crew to go down to 10 when Rudy Camacho picked up two bookings in the space of four minutes.

There was to be more drama, though, as Miami defender Ian Fray was judged to have handled in the area, yet this time, Drake Callender guessed correctly to deny Hernandez and ensure victory for Miami.

Data Debrief: Record points total within reach

That is Miami's second piece of silverware in the bag, after their Leagues Cup triumph last year, and the Herons' focus will now switch to an MLS record.

If they win their remaining two games before the postseason, against Toronto FC and New England Revolution, Miami will set the MLS regular-season points record, overtaking the tally of 73 set by the Revolution in 2021.

Line-ups

Columbus SC XI: Rudy Camacho, Darlington Nagbe, Steven Moreira, Christian Ramirez, Diego Rossi, Cucho Hernández, Malte Amundsen, Alexandru Matan, Patrick Schulte, Mohamed Farsi, Max Arfsten

Subs: Nicholas Hagen, Yevgen Cheberko, Yaw Yeboah, Derrick Jones, Dylan Chambost, Andrés Herrera, Aziel Jackson, DeJuan Jones, Jacen Russell-Rowe

Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, Marcelo Weigandt, Drake Callender, Diego Gómez, Ian Fray, Noah Allen, Federico Redondo, Yannick Bright

Subs: Óscar Ustari, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Robert Taylor, Matías Rojas, Franco Negri, Julian Gressel, Campana, David Ruíz, Benja Cremaschi