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MLS: Late Drama As Inter Miami Secures Victory Against D.C. United
Inter Miami secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over D.C. United, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from substitute Leonardo Campana at Chase Stadium.
Despite the return of superstar Lionel Messi to the starting lineup, Miami struggled to break down a resilient D.C. defense throughout the match.
The game was marked by a delayed start due to lightning and a torrential downpour shortly after kick-off, setting the stage for a dramatic evening of football. Miami dominated possession in the first half, with D.C. content to defend deep and look for opportunities on the counter.
As the match progressed, both teams had chances to score. D.C. United nearly capitalized on a counter-attack, but Jared Stroud missed a golden opportunity to put his team ahead. Lionel Messi, returning from a knee injury, showed flashes of his brilliance but was unable to find the back of the net with his free-kick attempts.
In the 69th minute, D.C.’s Matti Peltola came close with a shot that narrowly missed the target, while Messi himself had a chance that sailed just over the bar. As the game approached its final moments, D.C. United had a promising opportunity to snatch a late victory, only to be denied by Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender’s save from Cristian Dajome’s shot.
However, it was Inter Miami who had the last say in the match. In a twist of fate, Leonardo Campana, who had lost his starting spot to Luis Suarez this season, was brought on as a late substitute and made an immediate impact. Running across D.C.’s defense, Campana received a pinpoint pass from Sergio Busquets, controlled the ball expertly, and unleashed a powerful strike past D.C. United’s goalkeeper, Alex Bono, securing a crucial victory for his team.
The win extended Miami’s unbeaten run to nine games and also marked a significant improvement for the team compared to their performances in the previous season under Wayne Rooney. With this victory, Miami secured their ninth win of the season, matching their total from the entire previous season in just 15 games.
