Inter Miami 1-1 Charlotte FC Highlights: Messi scores equaliser as Miami remains in race for MLS playoffs

A tale of missed opportunities and end-to-end action ends with a point each for the two sides, with Messi and Swiderski as the goalscorers in this Major League Soccer match.

Charlotte goes for a counter attack, with Vargas getting a whipping cross from the left and catching the Miami defence napping. He beats his marker but his poor left-footed shot goes way off-target. 

What a miss this by Vargas!

The match looks to be stretched a bit at the moment with both teams employing relentless attacks at both ends of the field. But it is Miami which is slowly moving ahead, trying to breach the final line of defence for a win.

Rojas and Messi combine in front of the box and the latter sets up the former for a shot, which goes just wide. What a chance this was for the hosts!

Miami tries to drag Charlotte’s defence out of the blue mesh, with Alba whipping in a cross for Suarez, which is intercepted by Malanda for a corner. The resulting corner is headed out by the Charlotte defence.

Inter Miami pushing men up in numbers as it tries to find the winner in this end-to-end affair. Neither side has thrown the towel and a penalty to Inter Miami and a goal to Charotte have been ruled out so far.

Charlotte, meanwhile attacks on the counter and Vargas gets the final cross from the left and tucks it into the net. However, the celebrations are cut short as the linesman raise the off-side flag and the replay shows he was well ahead of the line.

The referee talks to the VAR to review the decision and after deliberation, takes the red card back. No penalty!

Suarez goes to ground in the box after a rash challenge by Malanda and the referee points to the spot. The Charlotte FC defender was already on a yellow card and the foul leads to his second yellow for the night and he is off.

Messi gets the ball in the midfield and drifts to his left and shoots from outside the box to find the left-bottom corner. And Miami is back into the game.

Miami tries a training-ground routine, with Suarez getting a lofted pass in the box. He tries setting up Messi in front of him but the shot is blocked. 

Former Barcelona duo Alba and Messi combine to try and find the equaliser, with Alba crossing from the left and Messi heading it. But, with no force in the header, Kahlina catches it with ease.

Suarez gets a delicious through ball in the box and he tries to shoot on target. But he is ruled off-side and the Uruguayan is furious. 

In: Matias Rojas, Out: Julian Gressel

Bronico gets the ball outside the box and he tries a shot from distance, which is deflected by Swiderski into the net, hoodwinking Callender. And the visitors are ahead!

Gomez looked to have picked up an injury but after receiving medical attention, the match resumes with a drop-ball.

Miami is now attacking in numbers. Suarez sets up Messi to his left, with the Argentine’s low shot saved by Kahlina. And Messi looks frustrated. This should have been a goal for the forward.

Miami attacks on the counter after an initial clearance and Suarez beats his marker with a turn, whips in a cross which is blocked by Charlotte.

The move almost pays off as Gomez gets a cross from the right but his pass to the centre is again intercepted by Charlotte’s defence.

The second half has begun with Miami trying to soak in the pressure as it puts men in numbers in the midfield to try and start an attack. 

Despite both sides coming close to scoring multiple times, this end-to-end affair remains without a breakthrough. 

Action on the end! Abada gets the ball along the left, off a long ball from the right, followed by a header, as Charlotte catches Miami off its line. Abada makes a forward run and shoots. But his shot is off-target.

Redondo and Suarez combine in the final third to get the ball into the box and as three pink shirts barge in for a goal, Charlotte’s defence makes a key interception to get the ball out.

Redondo tries to pull strings in the midfield and tries a lofted pass into the final third for Gomez. However, Byrne, who had been everywhere on the pitch tonight, comes to the rescue, combing with Kahlina to break that press.

Suarez tries a floated cross from the edge of the box but no Miami player could get their head on top of it. Weigandt tries to keep the ball in play but that attempt, too ends to nothing.

Miami attacks on the counter with Messi’s diagonal through ball finding Suarez on his left. The Uruguayan darts into the box and shoots just wide. But the off-side flag is raised as he was way past the line.

Charlotte full-back Byrne makes another forward run along the right flank and tries a cross to the centre. But Callender comes out to intercept and control the ball.

The match is still an end-to-end contest as Mesi’s diagonal ball finds Suarez, who shoots on the volley but Kahlina is not troubled at all. 

Charlotte tries an attack along the left this time, with Bronico linking up with Abada. The development ends with Abada settting up the No. 13, who shoots on target but Callender makes a regulation save to put the attack to bed.

Suarez looks to have been pulled back in the midfield and as Miami takes the quick free kick, Gomez runs into the box to try a shot but Privett tracks back to deny the chance and Gomez goes down, again, appealing for a penalty.

The referee, again, is not interested.

Charlotte tries to attack along the flanks after carrying the ball into the midfield through the centre. But its cross from the left by Byrne is blocked by Miami.

Gomez makes another run along the left flank, carrying the ball into the box, despite being challenged by Charlotte’s full-back Byrne but his cross, with Messi waiting, fails to find the target-man, the Argentine.

Bronico makes a forward run from the visiting side. He receives the ball in front of the box, turns and shifts to beat the defenders and then shoots. However, his shot is off-target and another chance goes begging for Charlotte FC,

Quick attack and a narrow miss! Miami goes for another attack, with Alba pulling the strings this time around. He gets the ball along the left flank, runs into the box and tries to beat Kahlina on the far post. But the ball dips late and goes out for a goal-kick.

Action on the other end now! Charlotte attacks on the counter and, with Miami’s goalkeeper high up the box, Swiderski tries a shot which dips and falls on top of the net. Miami could have been punished here.

Gomez wins the ball in the midfield after a defensive error by Charlotte and carries the ball into the final third, trying to set up Suarez, who had run into the box. But his cross is overshot as Charlotte clears it.

Messi latches onto the through ball in front of the box and tries a low left-footed shot on target, forcing a save by Kahlina. The Argentine had tried to get a curl but failed to do so while Charlotte will now feel the pressure of Messi, at times, playing as a False 9 in this game.

Messi gets a long ball after he makes a run behind Charlotte’s defence into the box. But he is eventually surrounded by three defenders and as he tries setting up Gomez, who goes to ground appealing for a penalty. The referee is not interested. 

Martino’s Miami is maintaining a four-man defence, which is shifting to a five-man structure when out of possession. Meanwhile, Abada gets a cross from the right in the Miami box but squanders the chance as he fails to control the ball.

The referee indicates start of play and Miami and Charlotte get the ball rolling in the match amid continuous cheers from the home fans, who have filled the stadium with Messi shirts.

The players are done with the final warm-up and have headed back to their dressing room. The match will begin in a few minutes!

Gerard Martion, Miami’s coach has broughT in three changes in his starting line-up, including midfielder Sergio Busquets, which will see the former Barcelona trio of Messi, Suarez and Busquets in action at the middle of the park.

Miami will depend on the tandem of former Barcelona forwards, Luis Suarez and Messi, to secure full points, which would see it take an 11 point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. It has just two losses in its last 11 games and beat Charlotte 2-1 in their previous clash in July.

Charlotte, on the other hand, has struggled to find wins, securing its first victory after eight matches, beating New England 4-0. Its last away win, however, came in July, a 3-1 victory over Cincinnati FC.

Lionel Messi’ Inter Miami will look to widen its lead on top of standings in the Eastern Conference Major League Soccer as it hosts Charlotte FC at the Chase Stadium in Florida, United States on Saturday.

Miami comes into the match after a 1-1 draw with New York City FC, with Messi looking to find form since returning from his ankle injury he picked up at the Copa America 2024 final. The World Cup winner scored twice on his return, helping his team beat Philadelphia Union on September 15.

That match, a home game, however was the last time he had a direct goal contribution and Miami has drawn two matches since, with both on the road.

Charlotte and Miami have met six times and the host side having an upper hand with three wins while the visitors have won twice. The remaining match has been a draw.