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Messi scores goal in draw

Vaseline September 29, 2024

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi could only lie down on the field, his hands in the air in disbelief, after he was challenged by two defenders and stumbled to the ground.

About a minute later, Luis Suarez missed a shot right in front of the net that could have given Inter Miami a win.

Messi knocked off shot after shot – ten of Inter Miami’s 20 on the night – until one finally went in.

Messi’s 67th-minute goal helped Inter Miami secure a 1-1 draw against Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium on Saturday evening. The draw also helps Miami keep pace in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race.

Messi was still not happy, he chirped at the referees and was shown a yellow card at the end of the match after his last action on the ball. Messi headed towards the net, but the 37-year-old Argentine World Cup champion was caught from behind.

Still, Messi managed to return four games after his injury as he continues to regain his form ahead of the start of the MLS play-offs.

Inter Miami has 65 points in the MLS standings after the draw and needs seven points in the last three games to win the regular season title.

The LA Galaxy have 58 points, Columbus has 57 points and FC Cincinnati has 56 points after Saturday’s games.

Inter Miami will next meet the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS champions, on Wednesday in a match that could decide the MLS Supporters’ Shield.

Saturday was Messi’s fourth match since returning from his ankle injury in the Copa America, which sidelined him for two-and-a-half months this summer.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Messi needs the playing time to get into better playing shape before the MLS play-offs, and believes he will achieve this with a series of club and national matches in the coming month.

“Leo will continue to get better as he adds 90 minutes,” Martino said. “It is clear that Leo does not need to do differentiated physical work during training, but he does need a competitive rhythm, which gives me the idea that he will make it to the play-offs very well, because in addition to the matches with us, he also plays the has matches with the Argentina national team. So we are hopeful that he will enter the play-offs in very good form.”

Following VAR review, it was determined that Charlotte FC defender Adilson Malanda’s foot, and not his hand, touched the ball while challenging a running strike towards the net from Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez.

The call denied Inter Miami and Messi a chance for a decisive penalty.

Lionel Messi put his shot together all night, finally delivering a strike to the left that found the bottom left of the net to help Inter Miami tie the match in the 67th minute.

Messi, in perhaps his most committed series of aggressive dribbling, couldn’t do much with a close-range header from Jordi Alba.

Charlotte’s Karol Świderski ricocheted a pass through the center of the net past Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender to take a 1–0 lead in the 57th minute of this match.

Lionel Messi is visibly upset by his latest miss, a left boot from the penalty area that was saved by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

Just outside: Messi’s left boot looked on target, but ended up just outside the right side of the net in the 36th minute.

Lionel Messi delivered a great pass to Luis Suarez, who couldn’t score with his right boot in the 34th minute. Inter Miami was on the attack early, but could not convert.

Lionel Messi immediately shot towards the net, but could not put enough power behind his left shoe. It was saved by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

Inter Miami’s match against Charlotte FC kicks off at 7:30 PM ET (8:30 PM Argentina) and can be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Yes, Messi will be in action tonight for Inter Miami vs. Charlotte F.C.

Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting line-up for tonight’s match. Here are the lineups for both clubs:

Messi will play with Argentina in October

Martino seemingly confirmed that Messi would join the Argentina national team for two matches during the FIFA international period in October.

Argentina plays Venezuela on October 10 at 5:00 PM ET and hosts Bolivia on October 15 at 8:00 PM ET.

They will be Messi’s first games for Argentina since winning the Copa America title for a second time earlier this summer.

Before Messi can rejoin his national team, he could help Inter Miami to its second title with wins on Saturday against Charlotte and on Wednesday at Columbus Crew.

Inter Miami, the 2023 Leagues Cup champions, could catch Columbus Crew at the right time: the match will be the Crew’s fifth in two weeks.

The Crew lost to Club America last Wednesday in a 1-1, 5-4 penalty shootout at home in the Campeones Cup, a battle between reigning MLS and Liga MX champions.

Columbus traveled to the White House on Friday to celebrate the 2023 MLS Cup, and will face DC United on Saturday night.

Today: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte
Wednesday: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew
October 5: Toronto vs. Inter Miami
October 10: Venezuela vs Argentina
October 15: Argentina vs Bolivia
October 19: Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution

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