Inter Miami Rescue 2-2 Draw With Cincinnati as Messi Goes Scoreless

Photo: Getty Images via theScore

Lionel Messi went scoreless, but Inter Miami still escaped with a 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night, thanks to a 90th minute equaliser from substitute Riquelme Fillipi.

Miami led through Luis Suarez on the hour, then fell behind to two Cincinnati goals in six minutes, before Fillipi rescued a point at the death. The draw cost Miami ground in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Main News Report: Inter Miami 2-2 FC Cincinnati as Fillipi Rescues a Point

The Associated Press, reported through theScore, said Suarez scored in the 61st minute to give the reigning MLS Cup champions a 1-0 lead. Rodrigo De Paul played the ball wide to Casemiro, who crossed first time for Suarez to curl home off the crossbar for his 16th goal of the season.

Cincinnati hit back late. AFP, reported through Free Malaysia Today, said Kenji Mboma Dem curled home a fine effort in the 80th minute, then Samuel Gidi scored his first MLS goal six minutes later on a counterattack to put Cincinnati 2-1 up. For a minute, Cincinnati looked set for a shock win that would have helped their own playoff push.

Fillipi had the last word. The substitute connected from the left side of the box in the 90th minute, the same area Suarez had scored from, to level at 2-2. It was Fillipi's first MLS goal, and it saved Miami from a home defeat in front of their own fans at Nu Stadium.

Background Context: A Quiet Night for Messi and a Big Sunday Ahead

Messi did not score, and for long stretches the game looked like it would drift to a low key draw. Miami controlled the ball and passed Cincinnati off the park in the first half, but could not find a way through. The game only came alive after half time, with all four goals arriving in the final half hour.

The result leaves Miami third in the Eastern Conference on 56 points, two behind the New England Revolution, who beat the New York Red Bulls 3-2 on the same night. Miami have two matches left, including a trip to New England on Sunday that will go a long way to deciding who takes second place, and with it a better seed for the MLS Cup playoffs.

Cincinnati, on 43 points, stay on the edge of the automatic playoff places and are still headed for the wild card round as things stand. They could still miss out altogether with two games left, so the point in Miami, hard as it was to take after leading so late, could prove valuable.

• 61st minute: Luis Suarez curls home from a Casemiro cross, 1-0 to Miami.
• 80th minute: Kenji Mboma Dem curls in the equaliser for Cincinnati, 1-1.
• 86th minute: Samuel Gidi scores his first MLS goal on the counter, 2-1 to Cincinnati.
• 90th minute: Substitute Riquelme Fillipi scores his first MLS goal, 2-2.
• Stoppage time: Evander has a late chance for Cincinnati, but Ian Fray blocks it and the game ends level.

Reactions and Statements: A Point Saved, but Ground Lost

There was no single quote that summed up the night better than the scoreline itself. Miami needed late heroics to salvage a point, in the words of the Associated Press report, and the champions will know that a draw at home against a team chasing the wild card round is two points dropped in a tight race.

For Cincinnati, the feeling will be mixed. They led with four minutes left and were briefly in a position to clinch a postseason place had other results gone their way. Instead they must wait until Saturday, when they host the Philadelphia Union, to try to seal their place.

For readers following world sport, see our report on Liverpool beating Chelsea on penalties in the League Cup, our report on Haris Rauf being fined in the Lahore ODI win over England, and our report on the UN vote on the Cuba embargo.

Why This News Matters: Messi, Miami and the Playoff Race

This matters because Messi and Miami are the team Pakistan's football fans search for most, and this game was trending in Pakistan on Thursday morning. A scoreless night for Messi, a late comeback and a playoff race that now hinges on Sunday's trip to New England is exactly the kind of finish that keeps fans talking.

It also matters in plain sporting terms. Second place in the East is not just a badge. It shapes the playoff path, and Miami have now handed the advantage to New England with two games left. Sunday's game in Foxborough is now, in the Associated Press report's words, massive for Messi's team.

For Cincinnati, the added value is in the table. They went from a win that could have clinched a postseason place to a draw that leaves them waiting, and that swing in four minutes shows how tight the Eastern Conference race is at the bottom as well as the top.

Future Developments: Sunday in New England and Saturday for Cincinnati

Watch for three things. First, Sunday's Miami trip to New England, which will decide much of the race for second place. Second, Cincinnati's home game against Philadelphia on Saturday, where a win could seal their postseason place. Third, whether Messi, kept quiet on Wednesday, returns to the scoresheet in either of Miami's final two games.

If Miami win on Sunday, they retake control of second place. If they lose, New England will have opened a gap that is hard to close with one game left, and the champions will face a harder road through the playoffs.

Sources

theScore (Associated Press): Messi goes scoreless, Inter Miami needs late goal to tie
Free Malaysia Today (AFP): Inter Miami stumble to draw against Cincinnati
Deadspin: Inter Miami score late to eke out draw against FC Cincinnati

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