Game is over and the final score is Inter Miami CF 3-3 Charlotte FC. Charlotte FC rallies from 3-goal deficit to draw Inter Miami 3-3 in regular-season finale.
Match Report:
Inter Miami let a three-goal lead slip as they ended the MLS regular season with a 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC, though they still finished second in the Eastern Conference.
Neither team had much at stake on Decision Day, with both being assured of their places in the postseason, and that gave way to a chaotic contest.
A first-half blitz from Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul looked to have wrapped up the points for Miami, but Liel Abada's quickfire brace introduced some jeopardy early in the second half, and substitute Rodolfo Aloko hit a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser for Charlotte.
Fray was heavily involved early on, with a handball decision ensuring his wayward header did not gift Abada a fifth-minute opener, before the Jamaican took advantage of a ricochet off Luca de la Torre to strike at the other end nine minutes later.
Lionel Messi then drew a good stop from Kristijan Kahlina before playing his part in the build up to Miami's 33rd-minute second. His inswinging corner was glanced on by German Berterame, and Suarez could not miss at the far post.
Miami were then in cruise control after De Paul was given too much time 30 yards from goal, with his sweet strike sailing through a crowd of bodies and into the net.
But the Herons contrived to throw two points away after the interval. Charlotte pulled a goal back as Liel Abada turned Tyger Smalls' centre home, only five minutes after the latter was introduced as a half-time substitute.
It was 3-2 within five further minutes, with Abada neatly exchanging passes with Pep Biel before finding the far corner, though Messi almost killed Charlotte's hopes of a fightback when his dink was cleared off the line by Henry Kessler soon afterwards.
And Miami were the masters of their own downfall seconds from the end of regulation time, as Micael's poor defensive header found Smalls. His volley crashed off the post, but Aloko was well-placed to steer the rebound into the empty net.
Messi curled against the post two minutes into stoppage time as Miami went within inches of a winner, though they will still be the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, after the New England Revolution lost 1-0 to Orlando City and finished third.
Orlando will have to beat FC Cincinnati in a play-in tie, though, after the Columbus Crew took the final automatic spot with a dramatic 4-3 success over the Chicago Fire, following a 93rd-minute winner from Brais Mendez.
Chicago will be the fourth seeds, having finished a point above Charlotte, while history was made at TQL Stadium, as Nashville SC's 2-0 win over Cincinnati set a new single-season MLS points record.
Nashville's total of 77 points in 2026 is the highest in the competition's history, surpassing Miami's 2024 mark of 74, while B.J. Callaghan's side also set new records for most wins (23) and fewest losses (three) in a campaign.
Miami pegged back again
There were no real postseason implications riding on this game, for either Miami or Charlotte.
And even letting Charlotte back into the contest, Miami still finished second in the East to tee up a first-round tie with the Columbus Crew in the postseason.
However, the sight of the Herons letting a three-goal lead slip will be a serious concern for Kily Gonzalez, particularly as Miami have already done so once this year, also at Nu Stadium in a 4-3 defeat to Orlando in May.
And, should Miami go all the way to the MLS Cup final and meet the Vancouver Whitecaps in a repeat of last year's showpiece, they would have to go on the road, as the Caps' 2-0 win at CF Montreal on Saturday confirmed their spot as the overall No.2 seed for the postseason, behind Nashville.
Charlotte, meanwhile, will face Chicago in the playoffs, with the head-to-head record between those teams split perfectly at 5-5, albeit the last four matchups have all been won by the Fire.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
9' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
14' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 1-0 Charlotte FC (Ian Fray)
20' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
27' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
33' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 2-0 Charlotte FC (Luis Suárez)
42' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-0 Charlotte FC (Rodrigo De Paul)
50' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-1 Charlotte FC (Liel Abada)
53' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
55' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-2 Charlotte FC (Liel Abada)
59' Highlight from Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
65' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
68' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
77' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
82' Match Event for Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC
90' GOAL! Inter Miami CF 3-3 Charlotte FC (Rodolfo Aloko)
Line-ups
Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, Suarez, Casemiro, De Paul, Reguilon, Germán Berterame, Dayne St. Clair, David Ayala, Telasco Segovia, Micael, Ian Fray
Subs: Maximiliano Falcón, Rocco Ríos Novo, Facundo Mura, Matías Galarza, Gonzalo Luján, Riquelme Fillipi, Yannick Bright, Dániel Pintér, Alexander Shaw
Charlotte FC XI: Westwood, Kristijan Kahlina, Nathan Byrne, Pep Biel, Harry Toffolo, Luca de la Torre, Djibril Diani, Henry Kessler, Liel Abada, Idan Toklomati, Morrison
Subs: Doucoure, Tyler Miller, Brandt Bronico, David Schnegg, Andrew Privett, Baye Coulibaly, Tyger Smalls, Rodolfo Aloko, Nathan Richmond
EmeraldJ
18
They blew 3-0 lead? And the yeye reporters are reporting as though they came from 3 nil down. And Messi rating? Chai, This people are no longer hiding this cheating and corruption
Derrick552
11
Click this to view GIFs: https://www.matchgif.com/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54328468&language=en
Diddenouz
8
still he even can't contribute 1 goal and save the team for the win and will he be the mvp for mls... do they know the meaning of captain and mvp also man of the match... goat meaning .. no they know nothing but simply pesi
podinptuyz
8
They blew 3-0 lead? And the yeye reporters are reporting as though they came from 3 nil down. And Messi rating? Chai, This people are no longer hiding this cheating and corruption
So now your poor English and comprehension problems are becoming a problem for Messi and the reporter??? The reporter is telling you that Inter Miami shipped three in second half but you understood the opposite. This is the worst fan base in the world. Go to school and learn comprehension and then come and support your Ronaldo properly.