Lionel Messi’s boots produced magic again as the Argentine maestro scored two goals in quick succession to help Inter Miami defeat the Columbus Crew 3-2, securing the Supporters Shield for the Herons.
The Copa América winner, who recently returned after an injury sustained in the final of this summer’s successful tournament, scored his first goal of the night with a long ball brilliantly picked out by Jordi Alba.
He would score again just five minutes later with a sublime free kick to take Miami into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Columbus, the reigning MLS Cup champions, scored the first of the night just seconds into kickoff, only for Luis Suarez to score Miami’s third after a comical mistake by the Crew backline.
The Crew would get closer to one thanks to a penalty from Cucho Hernández. But when faced with the same task again, he launched his kick to the same spot, which Miami goalie Drake Callender saved to preserve The Herons’ victory.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez scored the goals that gave Miami the Supporters Shield
Messi scored a brace, while Suárez scored the decisive third goal to win the trophy.
As a result, Miami wins the Supporters Shield, the trophy given to the team that finishes the season with the most points.
Traditionally, in other leagues, this would mean winning the league. However, MLS follows a format similar to that of traditional American sports, in which a knockout competition (MLS Cup) determines the league champions.
It is the second trophy that Inter Miami has won in its four years of existence after winning the Leagues Cup last season.
Both teams scored two goals early on, but both were disallowed for offside.
Stagnant at 0-0 on the verge of half-time, Alba saw Messi running and launched a well-timed high ball.
The Argentine magician lowered him with his chest and then cut him towards his right foot. A Columbus defender attempted to tip the ball away, but Messi’s forward momentum kept the ball in his path. A light touch of the ball was all it took to beat Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and take a 1-0 lead.
The Argentine captain soon doubled his luck. Crew center back Rudy Camacho went through Suarez’s back, giving Miami a free kick opportunity from 18 yards out.
Messi stepped forward and fired a curved laser that sent Schulte in the wrong direction and never gave the goalkeeper any hope of recovering, giving Miami a 2-0 lead heading into the half.
Messi left after scoring his second goal of the night and going 2-0 up.
Colón needed just 21 seconds to get on the board in the second half. Right from the kick-off, a pass played by Diego Rossi was deflected by Jordi Alba and by the perfectly angled boot of Mohamed Farsi.
The ball slid to Rossi, who with a well-weighted shot beat Callender and got within one.
If only they could keep that momentum going. Miami responded just minutes later after a wild goal due to a miscommunication at the back.
A long ball played in Suárez’s direction was met in the air by Schulte’s gloves, but Camacho collided directly with his own goalkeeper, sending him to the ground and losing the ball in the process.
Suarez pounced on the loose ball and headed it into the unguarded net to make the score 3-1.
The Crew regained some life when they earned a penalty on the hour mark after Miami defender Noah Allen committed a handball in the box. Cucho Hernández entered, who had only missed one penalty in his entire professional career. He hit it to Callender’s right to make the game 3-2.
Just two minutes later, Colón was left with ten men.
Camacho, having been completely embarrassed by allowing the free kick that led to Miami’s second goal and colliding with his goalkeeper that led to the third, his humiliation was complete when he got caught in a tackle after losing the ball at midfield. . In the replay, it appeared that the French defender barely hit his fellow footballer, but referee Drew Fischer gave him the order to leave.
Colón found life with Cucho Hernández’s boot from a penalty in the 61st minute
Hernández had a second penalty opportunity saved by Drake Callender, condemning Columbus
Still, Columbus had the opportunity to tie the game with another penalty caused by another handball in the area, this time committed by Ian Fray.
Hernandez went up again. As Lower.com Field waited anxiously, the Colombian ran toward the ball.
He made the wrong decision. Hernandez, who managed to get past the goalkeeper’s right once tonight, decided to hit the ball in the same spot again, this time finding the hands of Callender, who deflected the shot.
In the added ten minutes, Colón tried to find an equalizer but failed. The final whistle blew and Inter Miami emerged victorious that night, knowing that they had secured the top spot in the MLS Cup playoffs.