Inter Miami defeated the Columbus Crew, the reigning Major League Soccer champions, 3-2 to win the Supporters’ Shield, which is given to the team with the greatest regular season record. Lionel Messi scored twice in the victory.
Messi had been muted until the 45th minute when he put Inter ahead, chesting down a long ball into the area and getting a lucky bounce from Crew defender Malte Amundsen before tapping home.
A few minutes later, Messi doubled the score by curling a laser-precision free kick into the corner beyond the immobile Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, taking advantage of a badly constructed wall.
The #10 Argentine forward for Inter Miami During the Major League Soccer (MLS) football match between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 28, 2024, Lionel Messi celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal. (Image courtesy of Chris ARJOON/AFP)
After a two-month injury layoff, Messi has already played in 17 games and scored 17 goals while dishing out 15 assists.
However, Columbus responded with a goal 20 seconds into the second half when Diego Rossi’s deftly curled shot into the far corner after the ball dropped to him just inside the box.
As soon as play resumed, Columbus gave Miami a third goal when Schulte sprinted off his line and dropped the ball to Luis Suarez, who headed into an open goal with defender Rudy Camacho in his way.
The Crew battled back again though and made it 3-2 through a Cucho Hernandez penalty after Noah Allen handled in the box.
Columbus lost momentum after Camacho was sent off for a second yellow card. A penalty was awarded for handball against Fray, but Miami keeper Drake Callender saved to secure the shield for Columbus. Messi’s 46th career trophy with Inter Miami solidified his position as football’s most decorated player, despite suffering until the end.
The MLS Cup champion is determined by the winner of the playoffs, where Eastern Conference rivals the Crew and Miami could meet again. Inter Miami has 68 points and a home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Eastern Conference top seeds, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Orlando, will face off in the wild card round. The shield is a secondary prize for Inter Miami.
The first objective has been achieved, but the team must now focus on the next round, which will be one game with a potential outcome. Charlotte secured the final automatic place in the East with Karol Swiderski’s goal, while D.C. United secured a wildcard spot with Gabriel Pirani’s goal.
