Messi free-kick goal cannot save Miami from Columbus

Messi curled a free kick from an impossible angle. Columbus still took the points. Messi’s free-kick goal drew Inter Miami level in the 33rd minute on September 27. However, Jamal Thiaré struck late to seal a 2-1 home victory.

The finish showed Messi’s enduring touch. Yet the score told another story: one brilliant strike could not protect Miami’s defense. Still, the hosts kept creating and made their last chance count.

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Columbus strikes first and Miami responds from distance

Columbus hosted Inter Miami at Scotts Miracle Gro Field with Eastern Conference points at stake. Meanwhile, the home side attacked with purpose.

Josef Martínez converted a penalty in the 28th minute. Yannick Bright had pulled him down during a corner. Martínez had previously shared Miami’s dressing room with Messi. However, the first half soon turned toward his former teammate.

King Josef Martínez striker against his old team! 👑@ColumbusCrew leads Miami 1-0 on Apple TV: https://t.co/Zl6LyMLZNJ pic.twitter.com/I9Tg5ROjGj
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 27, 2026

After a foul on the right flank, Messi stood over the ball near the byline. The angle invited a cross. Instead, his left-footed delivery curled toward the far post.

😮‍💨SIEMPRE MESSI 🔥

GOLAZO DE LIONEL MESSI. De tiro libre, Messi empató el partido para Inter Miami. pic.twitter.com/yMTz4wRT8O
— Ecuagol (@ECUAGOL) September 28, 2026

It evaded the crowd and beat goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Miami reached halftime level despite pressure. Therefore, the equalizer kept a difficult away match within reach.

The Messi free kick goal followed another set piece finish against San Diego a week earlier. However, this angle demanded remarkable precision.MLS reported a record crowd of 21,188 at the stadium. Therefore, the home pressure carried an unmistakable edge.

The angle that turned a cross into a goal

From the right edge of the area, Messi faced a position close to the end line. Defenders expected service across goal. Instead, he chose the distant corner. His curl cleared the traffic and stayed beneath the bar.

Schulte reached, yet the shot passed beyond his hand. As a result, Messi answered Martínez’s penalty within five minutes.

That response showed the value of set pieces. Miami created little from open play, but Messi needed one opening. Moreover, that high arc gave Schulte little time to adjust once the ball cleared the first defender.

Schulte denies a second Messi strike

Messi nearly put Miami ahead after halftime. In the 62nd minute, he tested Schulte from inside the area. However, the goalkeeper pushed the shot away. His save kept Columbus level during Miami’s best second-half opportunity.

Miami moved quickly through its captain but struggled to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, Columbus pushed play toward the visitors’ box. From Ecuador, the distinction feels familiar. Individual brilliance can level a match; repeated chances often decide its outcome.

Bright had also departed injured before halftime. Consequently, Miami had already adjusted its shape around an earlier substitution.

Messi free kick goal meets a stoppage time Crew winner

Messi’s strike looked enough for a draw. Yet Columbus continued creating, and Miami never controlled the contest. The Crew outshot Miami 14-5, according to the Associated Press match report. They also led 7-3 on target.

Late discipline compounded the problem. Santiago Morales received a second caution in stoppage time, leaving Miami with ten players.

Then Brais Méndez curled an effort toward goal. Rocco Ríos Novo spilled it and substitute Thiaré attacked the rebound.Thiaré scored from close range in the 98th minute. Consequently, the Jamal Thiaré winner denied Miami a point.

JAMAL THIERE WINS IT FOR THE @COLUMBUSCREW IN THE 99TH MINUTE OVER MIAMI 😱 pic.twitter.com/Sp5zGfJFyW
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2026

The official MLS match recap confirms the 2-1 victory. For Columbus, three points sharpened its playoff pursuit after a tense, draining second half at home.

Messi’s 21st league goal could not disguise another difficult Miami finish. His teammates had held level for over an hour.Schulte’s earlier save had kept Columbus level. In contrast, Miami’s late rebound defense offered no second chance.

Why Columbus found the final answer

Columbus kept testing Miami after Martínez’s lead vanished. Moreover, its shot advantage reflected sustained attacking intent. Interim coach Laurent Courtois also gained impact from his substitutions. Thiaré entered late and delivered the decisive touch.

The winner rewarded alert positioning. When Ríos Novo spilled Méndez’s effort, Thiaré reached the loose ball first. As a result, the Crew moved within four points of ninth place in the East. Their remaining fixtures now carry extra weight.

Courtois praised both the performance and the decisive moments afterward. His message fit a team still chasing the postseason.

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