Lionel Messi in motion for Inter Miami© AFP
Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami beat the defending Major League Soccer champions the Columbus Crew 3-2 to clinch the Supporters’ Shield awarded for the perfect common season file. Messi had been subdued till the forty fifth minute when he put Inter forward — chesting down a protracted ball into the field and getting a fortunate bounce off Crew defender Malte Amundsen earlier than poking residence. Minutes later, Messi made it 2-0, benefiting from a poorly assembled wall to curve a laser-precision free-kick into the nook previous the stationary Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte.
But 20 seconds after the beginning of the second half, Columbus pulled a objective again when the ball fell to Diego Rossi simply contained in the field and he cleverly curled his shot into the far nook.
Straight from the restart, Columbus gifted Miami a 3rd when Schulte raced off his line however with defender Rudy Camacho in his means, he dropped the ball to Luis Suarez who headed into the unguarded objective.
GOAALLLLLLLLLLLL LEO MESSIIIIIIIIIIIII 0-2
WHAT A FREE-KICK!!pic.twitter.com/3dyuVr098E
— Leo Messi Fan Club (@WeAreMessi) October 3, 2024
The Crew battled again once more although and made it 3-2 via a Cucho Hernandez penalty after Noah Allen dealt with within the field.
But as soon as once more, the momentum Columbus had gained was misplaced when Camacho was despatched off for a second yellow card after a studs up problem on Federico Redondo.
Seven minutes from the top although, the Crew had an excellent likelihood to seize some extent — and deny Miami their celebration — when a penalty was awarded for handball in opposition to Ian Fray after a VAR evaluate.
But this time Colombian Hernandez’s penalty was weak and Miami keeper Drake Callender dived to his proper and saved.
The champions of MLS is set by the winner of the MLS Cup playoffs — the place Eastern Conference rivals the Crew and Miami might meet once more.
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