Messi ends scoring drought in chaotic clash

Lionel Messi returned to scoring form for Inter Miami, but could not inspire them to victory as they were held to a 2-2 draw by the Philadelphia Union in a chaotic MLS clash at Subaru Park on Wednesday. The encounter ended in ugly scenes in stoppage time, with both teams reduced to ten men after an altercation.

Union strike first through Vassilev

The Union got the ball rolling in the 11th minute. Teenager Cavan Sullivan clipped a perfectly weighted pass down the wing for Frankie Westfield to chase. Westfield brilliantly kept it in play before delivering an inch-perfect cross to Indiana Vassilev, who swept home a first-time finish.

Miami were back on level terms ten minutes later when Messi and Luis Suarez combined to tee up Daniel Pinter. And the visitors took the lead when Messi — who missed a penalty in their 4-1 loss to Nashville SC last time out — drilled in with a trademark left-footed strike.

Controversy, VAR and late red cards

Sergio Reguilon made a vital intervention to help Miami maintain their lead heading into half-time, but in the 58th minute Neil Pierre turned in from Milan Iloski's free-kick to restore parity. Iloski seemed to have put the Union ahead when he tucked in soon after, yet the goal was disallowed by VAR, with Pierre having drifted offside in the build-up.

An incident between Quinn Sullivan and Ian Fray late on then sparked a fracas, with both Cavan Sullivan and Yannick Bright seeing red as the spoils were shared.

What it means

After scoring in 10 of 11 matches for club and country from the beginning of May through the World Cup round of 16, Messi came into this match having netted in just one of his last seven games. He had also failed to score in each of his last three MLS appearances, having last gone on a longer run without a league goal between September 2023 and March 2024 (six games). However, he was back on target here to snap that run.

Miami now find themselves seven points back from MLS leaders Nashville, who beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0, so if they are to clinch the Supporters' Shield, they will need their talisman firing on all cylinders. The Union, meanwhile, sit down in 13th in the Eastern Conference.

Sullivan in the thick of it

Cavan Sullivan assisted two of the Union's three goals in their win over New York City FC on Sunday, and the 16-year-old was in the thick of the action again here, though his temper got the better of him in the closing stages. The teenager was responsible for a team-leading 17 duels contested, 11 duels won, and four shots, while he also tallied up 0.54 expected goals, with the Union creating chances worth 2.59 xG overall to Miami's 1.48.