Gonzalez blames refereeing decisions as Inter Miami’s winless MLS run reaches five games

Miami fall late after controversial Columbus defeat

Inter Miami’s difficult run in Major League Soccer continued as Jamal Thiare scored in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to give Columbus Crew a 2-1 victory at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Josef Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 28th minute after Yannick Bright fouled him, but Lionel Messi restored parity five minutes later with a superb free-kick over Patrick Schulte.

The match turned decisively late on. Santiago Morales was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card, and Columbus took advantage two minutes later when Thiare finished after Brais Mendez’s shot was spilled by Rocco Rios Novo.

Gonzalez questions multiple decisions

Inter Miami coach Cristian Gonzalez said his team had been hurt by a series of calls, arguing that both Columbus goals should have been disallowed and that a Miami goal was wrongly ruled out.

“The truth is that, for me, there are very clear things that happened on the field that I believe should have been given,” Gonzalez said.

He claimed a handball in the build-up to Columbus’ opening goal should at least have been reviewed by VAR, while also pointing to a foul on Rodrigo De Paul before the decisive goal. Gonzalez added that the disallowed Miami goal was “perfectly legal.”

“In favour or against us, today was our turn, from my point of view, with these refereeing mistakes,” he said. “We just have to move on.”

Messi continues to lead the Golden Boot race

Miami have now gone five MLS matches without a win, recording four draws and one defeat since a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal on August 29. They remain third in the Eastern Conference, but must improve with seven regular-season matches still to play.

Messi’s free-kick was his 12th direct free-kick goal for Miami in all competitions and his sixth of the season. He also moved to 21 MLS goals for the year, extending his lead in the Golden Boot race to three over FC Dallas forward Petar Musa.

Inter Miami’s next MLS match is against D.C. United on October 10. Messi is also expected to represent Argentina against Benin in early October.