The Columbus Crew once again found themselves battling from behind, a position they had grown familiar with this season. Facing a 2-0 deficit against Inter Miami, the Crew were unable to replicate their previous comeback success. This time, Lionel Messi was on the field, a game-changer that shifted the dynamics.
On Wednesday, Inter Miami secured a 3-2 victory over the Crew, with Messi scoring two decisive goals in his first-ever appearance against Columbus. The win clinched the 2024 Supporters’ Shield for Miami, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
Messi’s Impact on the Game
A glance at the box score would suggest Messi’s dominant role in Miami’s triumph, and that assessment wouldn’t be wrong. The Argentine superstar was instrumental in establishing Miami’s early lead, netting two goals in the first half.
“He had one and a half opportunities, and he took advantage of both,” stated Crew coach Wilfried Nancy. “That’s why he’s Messi. They controlled what they needed to.”
Though Messi's brilliance was key to the early advantage, the game’s complexion shifted in the second half. Despite mounting pressure from the Crew, they were their own worst enemy, committing critical errors that derailed their momentum.
Missed Opportunities and Defensive Errors
The Crew appeared to gather momentum after Diego Rossi’s goal in the early stages of the second half. However, that momentum was fleeting. Just minutes after Rossi’s goal, goalkeeper Patrick Schulte collided with defender Rudy Camacho, a misstep that allowed Luis Suarez to score Miami’s third goal.
Compounding the team's troubles, striker Cucho Hernandez successfully converted a penalty to narrow the score to 3-2. However, shortly after, Camacho received a red card for his second yellow of the game, forcing Columbus to finish the last 25 minutes with only 10 players.
"It's simply football, nothing more to it," Nancy stated following the game.“Rudy has rescued us on numerous occasions this season, but tonight wasn’t his night, and he’s aware of that.”
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Messi’s Quick Strikes
For most of the first half, Columbus effectively stifled Messi and the Miami attack. The only offensive threat Miami posed before Messi’s first goal was a 40th-minute shot from Suarez, saved by Schulte.
Then, in the 45th minute, Messi found his opening. After outmuscling two defenders, he went one-on-one with Schulte, slipping the ball past him into the net. Just five minutes later, Messi scored again, this time curling a free kick into the corner following a foul on Camacho.
"It's evident that preparing for a player of Messi's caliber is difficult," said Crew midfielder Max Arfsten."We tried our hardest to minimize his opportunities, but it's evident that he's an exceptional player."
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Crew clawed their way back into the match with Rossi’s goal in the opening minute of the second half, sending the Lower.com Field crowd into a frenzy. Yet, in a matter of seconds, Miami responded.
Just 30 seconds after the restart, Suarez capitalized on a long ball into the Crew’s box. As Schulte moved to play the ball, Camacho collided with him, dislodging the ball and setting up Suarez for a simple header to restore Miami’s two-goal advantage.
"It was really noisy in there," Schulte mentioned.I called out for the ball, but maybe my voice didn't carry enough. The energy from the crowd was intense after we scored, and"I probably should have taken a little more time before deciding to call them off."
Camacho’s night worsened when he received a red card, further complicating the Crew’s efforts. Despite being down a man, Columbus still had chances to equalize.
Late Drama and Missed Penalties
In the latter stages of the match, Columbus was gifted two penalty kicks due to handball violations by Miami inside their own box. Hernandez confidently scored the first penalty, but his second attempt, in the 84th minute, was saved by Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender with a diving stop.
“It’s tough,” said Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe. At that moment, it all comes down to mindset—how fast can we bounce back? I thought we did a good job getting the second goal, and it felt like just a matter of time before we got the third. Unlucky not to convert the penalty, but Cucho is usually money in those situations.”
Conclusion
Despite their resilience and ability to create chances, the Crew’s costly mistakes and Messi’s brilliance proved too much to overcome. With the victory, Inter Miami celebrated their 2024 Supporters’ Shield win, while Columbus was left ruing what could have been, a loss marked by missed opportunities and untimely errors.
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