May 25, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi produced a late masterclass to help Inter Miami salvage a dramatic 3-3 draw against Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday night.
The Argentine superstar struck a magnificent free-kick in the 86th minute before providing the assist for Telasco Segovia’s stoppage-time equaliser, completing a remarkable comeback from two goals down.
Philadelphia dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, with Quinn Sullivan opening the scoring after just seven minutes through a curling effort from a short corner kick routine.
Tai Baribo, currently leading the MLS Golden Boot race, doubled the Union’s advantage before half-time and appeared to have sealed victory with his second goal of the evening, making it 3-1 with 16 minutes remaining.
Inter Miami’s fightback began in the 60th minute when Tadeo Allende reduced the deficit with a well-placed header.
The visitors appeared destined for defeat until Messi stepped forward to curl home a stunning free-kick from the edge of the penalty area, marking his sixth MLS goal of the campaign and igniting hopes of an unlikely comeback.
The drama reached its peak in the final moments when Messi turned provider, setting up substitute Segovia to curl a beautiful strike into the top corner during stoppage time.
The Colombian midfielder’s clinical finish completed one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent MLS history and earned Miami a valuable point on the road.
The result extends Inter Miami’s concerning run of form, with the team now winless in seven of their last eight matches across all competitions.
Manager Javier Mascherano faces mounting pressure following another defensive display that saw his side concede three goals and register just 10 shots compared to Philadelphia’s 18.
Despite the late heroics, Miami’s inconsistent performances continue to raise questions about their championship aspirations in 2025.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
