Messi’s Inter Miami held 2-2 by San Diego in MLS clash
Dreyer Scores Twice As San Diego Holds Messi’s Miami
ISLAMABAD: (Sports Desk) – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC on Sunday, missing another opportunity to close the gap on Eastern Conference leaders Nashville. The result leaves Miami 11 points behind Nashville with eight regular-season matches remaining.
San Diego stunned the home side by taking the lead in the 12th minute. Danish forward Anders Dreyer collected a perfectly weighted pass from compatriot Jeppe Tverskov before calmly lifting the ball over Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Inter Miami responded 12 minutes later when Messi produced a landmark moment. His curling free-kick from outside the penalty area found its way through the crowded box and into the net, bringing his tally to 101 goals for the club and 20 in the MLS regular season.
Miami controlled much of the possession and territory after the equaliser, creating several opportunities to take the lead. Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul all went close, but San Diego goalkeeper CJ dos Santos and his defence managed to keep the visitors in the contest.
Miami finally moved ahead in the 74th minute when De Paul picked out Suárez near the edge of the penalty area. The veteran Uruguayan striker finished clinically to make it 2-1.
The advantage, however, lasted only eight minutes. Tverskov again delivered a precise ball over the top, finding Dreyer, who kept his composure to score his second goal of the night and restore parity.
The visitors nearly completed a dramatic comeback in stoppage time when Kieran Sargeant found himself with a late chance on the counterattack, but St. Clair produced the save to preserve a point for Miami.
The draw was Inter Miami’s fourth consecutive tie in MLS play, while San Diego ended a three-match losing streak.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.