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MLS: Inter Miami Held By Colorado Despite Messi Scoring Off Bench
Inter Miami faced off against the Colorado Rapids in a captivating match that led to a 2-2 draw.
The game was marked by the return of footballing icon Lionel Messi, who made a dramatic impact off the bench to inspire Inter Miami’s attacking revival.
The first half saw the visiting Rapids take the lead just before the break, as Kevin Cabral was brought down in the area by’ Ryan Sailor, leading to a penalty that was confidently converted by’ Colorado’s Rafael Navarro. Despite Miami’s efforts to break down the resilient Rapids defense, they entered halftime trailing by a single goal.
The second half witnessed a dramatic turnaround, ignited byt the introduction of Lionel Messi. Making his first appearance after a month-long absence due to a hamstring injury, Messi wasted no time in leaving his mark on the game. Just 12 minutes after coming on, the Argentine Great displayed his clinical finishing as he latched onto a perfectly placed cross from Franco Negri, firing home off the inside of the post to bring the level.
The momentum continued to swing in Miami’s favor as Messi’s influence reverberated throughout the team. The game was finely poised when debutant Leonardo Afonso scored his first goal as a Miami player. Afonso coolly converted Ruiz’s assist, putting Miami in the lead and igniting the crowd with a sense of anticipation.
However, the drama was far from over as the Rapids mounted a comeback, capitalizing on a swift counter-attack in the 88th minute. Substitute Calvin Harris orchestrated a precise assist for Cole Bassett, and made no mistake in front of the goal, slotting home the equalizer & denying Miami all three points.
The draw extended Inter Miami’s winless streak to four games, but the team’s resilience – attacking skills, boosted by’ Messi’s return offered glimpses of promise for the future.
