Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami Updates, Highlights
Lionel Messi scored two goals in a five-minute span before halftime to give Inter Miami a 3-2 second-half lead over defending champion Columbus Crew in the biggest game of the Major League Soccer season on Wednesday night.
Messi scored his first goal in 45m minute, and scored a free kick about four minutes later in highlight fashion. The match is available to stream live on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and broadcast on FS1.
Luis Suarez scored in the 48th minute two minutes after Crew star Diego Rossi opened the second half. Cucho Hernandez scored in the 61st minute for Columbus, and the second half became tense.
Messi and Inter Miami have a chance to win the MLS Supporters' Shield, awarded to the MLS regular-season leader, with a win. It will be Inter Miami's second title in the Messi era after winning the League Cup in 2023. It would also be the 46th title of Messi's storied career.
But this game is by no means over: the last time Columbus played at Inter Miami, it responded with three second-half goals to steal a 2-0 deficit at home in August.
You can follow along here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.
Rudy Camacho red card leads to ejection: Inter Miami 3, Columbus Crew 2
Crew defender Rudy Camacho was sent off in the 64th minute after receiving his second yellow card for a questionable tackle on Inter Miami's Federico Redondo. The Crew will play the remainder of this match with 10 players instead of 11.
Cucho Hernandez scores: Inter Miami 3, Columbus Crew 2
Cucho Hernandez scored in the 61st minute for Crewe on a penalty kick after Inter Miami's handball.
It's already three goals in the second half by both teams, and we're back to a one-goal lead for Inter Miami.
Luis Suarez goals: Inter Miami 3, Columbus Crew 1
Luis Suarez scored for Inter Miami, with Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte tapping in a goal after a collision with a teammate. This creates a loose ball opportunity and a 3-1 lead for Inter Miami.
Columbus crew coach Wilfred Nancy could only put his hands to his head in disbelief.
Diego Rossi opens the second half with a goal: Inter Miami 2, Columbus 1
Crew star Diego Rossi was the beneficiary of Inter Miami's defensive breakdown, scoring a goal in the 46th minute as the second half began.
Lionel Messi scores the second free kick: Inter Miami 2, Columbus Crew 0
Messi showed again why he is the greatest in the world, scoring a free kick in extra time (45+4') before halftime to give Inter Miami a 2-0 lead against Columbus Crew.
Lionel Messi goal highlights: Inter Miami 1, Columbus Crew 0
Lionel Messi scored 45 goalsm Minutes later, Inter Miami leads the Columbus Crew 1-0.
Just before halftime, Messi was able to score with his left boot past Crewe goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
Christian Ramirez's shot goes wide right: Inter Miami 0, Columbus 0
Christian Ramirez, one of the Crew's star players, lined up a right shot that curled wide of the right side of the net in the 34th minute.
Chello Weigand's goal disallowed, Mo Farsi Clash: Inter Miami 0, Columbus 0
Messi shook his finger in the air in disapproval. Inter Miami coach Tata Martino raised his hands in disbelief. An Inter Miami goal was disallowed due to a player being offside. It could have been an own-goal by Columbus.
Columbus attacker Mo Farsi is being tended to by trainers after a collision with Inter Miami's Sergio Busquets in the 26th minute.
Cucho Hernandez goal disallowed after offside call: Inter Miami 0, Columbus 0
Columbus almost went up 1-0, but Cucho Hernandez was only a step or two ahead of the Inter Miami back line. He was ruled offside after finding the back of the net in the 8thm minutes
Update from the opening minutes of the match: Inter Miami 0, Columbus 0
Both teams traded possession in the first five minutes, with Messi already getting at least one clearance for Inter Miami. These clubs are ball dominant, so it's going to be interesting to see which one pushes the envelope in ball control.
How to watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami on TV
The Inter Miami match against the Columbus Crew will be televised by FS1 in the US.
How to live Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami tonight
The match will also be available for live stream via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
When does the Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami game start?
The match will start at 7:45pm (8:45pm Argentina time).
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes, Lionel Messi is expected to start tonight for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew.
Columbus Crew coach Wilfred Nancy pregame interview
Message from Columbus coach Wilfred Nancy: “We deserve to be here. The most important thing for me is a good performance,” he said in a pregame interview.
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino pregame interview
Key to the game from Inter Miami's Tata Martino: “We have to be consistent for 90 minutes,” he said through a translator before the game.
Massey takes the Columbus Crew
This will be Messi's first game against Crewe, although the two teams have played each other twice this season. And it will be Messi's fifth game since returning from a right ankle injury at the Copa America.
“My players, yes, they know Miami is coming with Messi and we know it's a good game for both teams,” Crewe coach Wilfred Nancy told reporters on Tuesday. “It's definitely good for the league. It's good for everyone.”
Messi has scored three goals in four games, but Inter Miami have drawn three in a row as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner improves his conditioning. This has left some in the media wondering if Inter Miami have played well without Messi after winning 9 out of 10 matches before his return.
“I am happy to have the best player in the world with us. And well, it won't be a problem to adapt,” Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales said.
Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami starting lineup
Messi is actually starting for Inter Miami. Here are the starting lineups for both clubs:
Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami Predictions
Inter Miami 4, Columbus Crew 3: Messi may have heard of a good game at Inter Miami before returning from injury and making a statement to lead the club to the MLS Supporters' Shield title. Messi scored twice, assisted by Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas will score for Miami against the Crew. Columbus may have tired legs in its seventh game in 24 days, while Miami will play its fifth game in the same span. – Safid Deen, USA TODAY's Lionel Messi reporter.
Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami Match
Inter Miami won 2-1 at home in June while Messi was away during the Copa America, and the Crew won 3-2 in August with Messi injured en route to winning the League Cup 2024.
The way Columbus won was emphatic: Christian Ramirez scored in the 67thm Diego Rossi scored a brace in the 69th minutem and 80m Minutes to steal the victory.
MLS Supporters Shield standings, situation
Inter Miami leads the MLS regular season standings with 65 points with three games remaining. A win tonight would give Inter Miami 68 points, and no other club could reach that mark, giving them the Supporters Shield. If Inter Miami wins, it will set a new MLS record with 74 points. A loss to Columbus would force Inter Miami to win its last two games to clinch the Shield.
The Columbus Crew are third with 57 points, but have four games remaining. A loss against Inter Miami would take the Crew to 66 points if they win their last three games. A win over Inter Miami, however, opened the way to a maximum of 69 points.
LA Galaxy are second with 58 points with three games remaining. Three more wins would give the Galaxy 67 points.
MLS playoff clinching scenario for Wednesday night's games
➤ Inter won the Supporters' Shield with Miami CF:
➤ Charlotte FC clinch playoff berth:
- victory
- Draw, and Toronto FC Lose or Draw, and DC United Lose or Draw, and New England Revolution Lose or Draw, and Atlanta United Lose or Draw
- Toronto FC Lose or Draw, and New England Revolution Lose or Draw, and Atlanta United Lose or Draw, and DC United Draw
➤ Los Angeles FC has home field advantage in Round 1:
- Win, and Real Salt Lake Lose, and Houston Dynamo FC Lose or Draw, and Colorado Rapids Lose or Draw, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC Draw
➤ Minnesota United FC clinch playoff berth:
- victory
- FC Dallas lose or draw
➤ Portland Timbers win with playoff berth:
- victory
- draw, and FC Dallas lose or draw
More: MLS scores and fixtures
MLS playoff pictures: If the season ended today…
Heading into MLS Matchday 36, this first round of MLS playoff matchups will be …
Eastern Conference
➤ Clinched Playoff Spots: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC
Wild Card Match:
- Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Philadelphia Union (9)
Round 1 (Best of Three Series):
- Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Philadelphia Union winner
- Columbus Crew (2) vs Charlotte FC (7)
- FC Cincinnati (3) vs New York Red Bulls (6)
- Orlando City SC (4) vs New York City FC (5)
Western Conference
➤ Clinched Playoff Spots: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Wild Card Match:
- Minnesota United FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Portland Timbers (9)
Round 1 (Best of Three Series):
- LA Galaxy (1) vs. Minnesota United FC-Portland Timbers winner
- Los Angeles FC (2) vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7)
- Real Salt Lake (3) vs Houston Dynamo FC (6)
- Colorado Rapids (4) vs Seattle Sounders FC (5)
More: 2024 MLS standings
2024 MLS Cup Playoff Format and Schedule What is the format and schedule?
A total of 18 teams qualified for the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference. The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in a wild-card match. The top seven seeds qualify for the best-of-three series in Round 1. Here is the playoff schedule:
- 3 October: Wild-card match (single-elimination match)
- Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (Best of Three Series)
- November 23-24: Conference Semifinals (Single-Elimination Match)
- November 30-December 1: Conference Finals (Single-Elimination Match)
- December 7: MLS Cup (single winner-takes-all)
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