Inter Miami settled for a 2-2 draw against San Diego, whom they hosted at No Stadium in the U.S. soccer league. The defending champions dropped points once again in the Eastern Conference title race.
After recording their fourth consecutive draw, Miami increased their points total to 46 and held on to third place. Inter Miami trail New England on goal difference and are 11 points behind leaders Nashville. Eight matches remain in the regular season.
Dreyer carries San Diego with two goals
San Diego’s first goal of the match came from Anders Dreyer in the 12th minute. The Danish player put his team ahead by converting a pass from his compatriot Jeppe Tverskov.
Inter Miami responded through Lionel Messi in the 24th minute. The Argentine star’s free kick from outside the penalty area struck the inside of the post before finding the net.
The goal was Messi’s 101st for Inter Miami and took his career total to 930. Having scored from a free kick for the 75th time, Messi also raised his goal tally in the U.S. soccer league to 20 and moved into first place in the scoring race. Messi is two goals ahead of Croatian striker Petar Musa, who plays for Dallas.
The home side continued to control the game in the second half. After creating chances through Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, Miami took the lead in the 74th minute. Following De Paul’s accurate pass to Suárez on the edge of the penalty area, the Uruguayan striker sent the ball into the net with a powerful shot.
Just as Inter Miami were closing in on victory, San Diego leveled the score again in the 82nd minute. Dreyer, who had scored the first goal, thus netted his second goal of the match and his team’s second as well.
San Diego also had an opportunity to score the winning goal in stoppage time. However, Inter Miami goalkeeper St. Clair prevented his team’s defeat by saving Kieran Sargent’s shot at the end of a fast break.
