Lionel Messi and Inter Miami missed the chance to close the gap at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. Miami drew 2 2 with San Diego at home on Sunday.
Anders Dreyer scored twice for San Diego. Messi and Luis Suarez found the net for Miami, but San Diego fought back late to secure a point.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | Inter Miami drew 2 2 with San Diego |
| Competition | Major League Soccer (MLS) |
| Location | Florida, USA |
| Final Score | Inter Miami 2 2 San Diego |
| Inter Miami Scorers | Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez |
| San Diego Scorer | Anders Dreyer, two goals |
| Key Assist | Rodrigo De Paul assisted Luis Suarez |
| Conference Impact | Miami remained 11 points behind Nashville |
| Games Remaining | Eight regular season games |
San Diego Shock Messi and Miami
San Diego made a fast start and shocked the home side after 12 minutes.
Danish forward Anders Dreyer opened the scoring. Jeppe Tverskov played a precise pass into his path. Dreyer then lifted the ball over Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Inter Miami responded quickly. Messi levelled the score in the 24th minute.
Miami Push for the Lead
Miami controlled much of the possession after the equaliser. The home side also created several chances.
Messi came close again, while Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul also threatened the San Diego defence.
However, San Diego kept Miami from finding a second goal for most of the match.
The pressure finally paid off in the 74th minute. De Paul played a clever pass to Suarez near the edge of the area.
San Diego Responds Late
Miami looked set to take all three points as the match entered its final stages.
San Diego had other plans.
Tverskov again produced an accurate pass over the defence. Dreyer raced onto the ball and calmly finished to make it 2 2.
The late equaliser changed the mood inside the stadium. Both teams then pushed for a winning goal.
San Diego nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time. Kieran Sargeant broke forward on the counter and got a late effort away.
Miami Draw Leaves Title Race Tight
The draw left Inter Miami 11 points behind Nashville in the Eastern Conference, according to the information provided.
Miami had eight regular season games remaining.
Messi scored his 101st goal for Inter Miami with his first half free kick.
Dreyer became the key player for San Diego after scoring both of his team’s goals.
Inter Miami Faces Eight Crucial Games
Inter Miami will continue its MLS campaign with eight regular season matches remaining.
The club will look to recover points in its upcoming fixtures and reduce the gap at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami and San Diego shared the points after an entertaining 2 2 draw.
Dreyer scored twice for the visitors, while Messi and Suarez scored for Miami. San Diego’s late equaliser denied Miami a home victory and left the Eastern Conference race unchanged at the top.
