Lionel Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father as Inter Miami drew 2-2 with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Messi also assisted Inter Miami’s opening goal, but the visitors could not hold on to their lead after Philadelphia twice fought back. The draw ended Miami’s three-game losing streak.
Philadelphia took the lead in the 11th minute through Indiana Vassilev. The Union’s early advantage lasted 10 minutes before Inter Miami academy product Dániel Pintér equalized for his first MLS goal.
Messi played a role in that goal. He supplied the ball to Luis Suárez on the left side of the penalty area, and Suárez headed it toward Pintér, who finished from close range.
Five minutes later, Messi put Miami ahead.
The 39-year-old received the ball from Ian Fray on the right side of the box, cut inside and curled a left-footed effort toward the far post. It was his 13th MLS goal of the season and moved him to within one goal of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa in the Golden Boot race.
Messi’s celebration was restrained. After briefly embracing his teammates, he pointed toward the sky.
His father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, died earlier this month at age 68. The goal was Messi’s first since his father’s death.
Philadelphia refused to let the match slip away.
Neil Pierre headed the Union level in the 58th minute, restoring parity at 2-2. Philadelphia then appeared to have scored again through Milan Iloski, but the goal was ruled out after a video review because Pierre had been offside in the buildup.
The Union finished with more shots despite Miami having the greater share of possession. Inter Miami recorded 55.7% possession and six shots, while Philadelphia had 44.3% possession and 18 shots, according to Miami’s official match report.
The match ended with another flashpoint deep into stoppage time.
Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan and Inter Miami’s Yannick Bright were both sent off following an off-the-ball confrontation. The red cards came with little time remaining, leaving both sides to finish the match with 10 players.
For Miami, the point stopped a run of three consecutive defeats. Inter Miami entered the game with an 11-3-6 record and 39 points, according to the club’s official match report. The result left the club with a draw rather than a fourth straight loss.
Miami’s recent downturn had followed a strong MLS run. Before losing 4-1 to Nashville on Saturday, the club had gone seven MLS matches unbeaten, winning six and drawing one. The Nashville defeat also came after Miami’s losses to Mexican opposition in the Leagues Cup.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, extended its unbeaten run to five matches under interim coach Ryan Richter, according to Associated Press reporting carried by other outlets. The Union had won four of those matches and drawn one.
The two teams had already produced one of the highest-scoring MLS matches of the season in May, when Inter Miami came from behind to beat Philadelphia 6-4. Luis Suárez scored a hat trick in that game, while Messi did not score.
This time, Messi provided both a goal and an assist, but Philadelphia’s response ensured Miami left Pennsylvania with only one point.
Inter Miami next hosts Toronto FC on Saturday, Aug. 22, while the latest result gives Philadelphia another valuable result as its unbeaten run continues.
