Inter Miami salvaged a draw from the jaws of defeat with a late, Lionel Messi-inspired comeback in a 3-3 draw with the Philadelphia Union.
Match Report
Miami seemed to be heading for a fourth defeat in the space of six MLS games when Tai Baribo's second of the match put the Union into a 3-1 lead on Saturday.
Quinn Sullivan put Philadelphia ahead early on at Subaru Park, where Baribo made it 2-0 in the 44th minute.
Tadeo Allende's fifth league goal of the campaign dragged Miami back into it, yet Baribo doubled up just after Telasco Segovia saw a goal disallowed for the visitors at the other end.
But a sublime Messi free-kick reduced the deficit in the 87th minute, paving the way for Segovia to smash home from distance in stoppage time.
The draw means Philadelphia hold just a one-point advantage at the top of the Eastern Conference, while Miami are seven points back in sixth place.
Data Debrief: Messi continues Union hot streak
Messi has now scored four goals in three career matches against Philadelphia in all competitions, scoring at least once in all three games.
In fact, the Argentine has now had a streak of four or more consecutive games with a goal against 20 different teams in his career, but this is the first time he has done so while not playing Barcelona.
Baribo, though, leads the scoring charts in MLS with 13 goals this season, and he has now netted in four straight games.
Without a win in four league games, their longest run since 2023, Miami can at least take solace with a point. They generated 1.3 expected goals compared to the Union's 2.83 xG, but found the cutting edge when it mattered late on.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 1-0 Inter Miami CF (Quinn Sullivan)
14' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
30' Match Event for Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
34' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
40' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
44' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 2-0 Inter Miami CF (Tai Baribo)
60' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 2-1 Inter Miami CF (Tadeo Allende)
70' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
73' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 3-1 Inter Miami CF (Tai Baribo)
81' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
87' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 3-2 Inter Miami CF (Messi)
91' Highlight from Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami CF
90+5' GOAL! Philadelphia Union 3-3 Inter Miami CF (Telasco Segovia)
Line-ups
Philadelphia Union XI: Jakob Glesnes, Mikael Uhre, Kai Wagner, Tai Baribo, Indiana Vassilev, Danley Jean Jacques, Nathan Harriel, Jovan Lukić, Quinn Sullivan, Olwethu Makhanya, Andrew Rick
Subs: Alejandro Bedoya, Olivier Mbaizo, Jesús Bueno, Jeremy Rafanello, Chris Donovan, Oliver Semmle, Bruno Damiani, Cavan Sullivan, Frankie Westfield
Inter Miami CF XI: Óscar Ustari, Messi, Suarez, Alba, Busquets, Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján, Ian Fray, Noah Allen, Tomás Avilés, Yannick Bright
Subs: Fafà Picault, David Martínez, Maximiliano Falcón, Marcelo Weigandt, Rocco Ríos Novo, Telasco Segovia, Federico Redondo, Allen Obando, Benja Cremaschi
dougiefresh
49
A stunning free kick and assist from HIS HIGHNESS to earn Inter Miami a point from 1 to 3 down.
Evans0323
24
When a Team is conceding 3 goals in almost every match the coach and the owner’s should have known that the Defenders and the defensive midfielder is not good enough anymore, instead of signing good players Inter Miami are selling their good players and signing some random unknown signings
baleful
24
GIF link Here: http://www.goalgif.xyz/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54026662&language=en
Baffaboriello
23
This comeback by Messi 💯
zahlnptuy
14
There was nothing wonderful about that freekick. The keeper laterally allow it in when even Onana will have an easy save. That's the gift Messi always get in the Burger soccer league to be relevant.
keeper standing on that side he still scored, Messi scored free kicks against almost all world class world class goal keepers in the world. stop posting rubbish ..