Inter Miami twice let a lead slip through their grasp, with Brais Mendez's late goal salvaging a point for the Columbus Crew in a 2-2 draw.

Despite Lionel Messi returning from the World Cup off the bench, and Luis Suarez scoring for a fourth straight game, Miami could not hold on for three points.

Suarez gave Miami the lead in some style; Yannick Bright picked Andre Gomes' pocket just near the centre-circle, sending the ball to the Uruguayan, who scooped a stunning long-range effort up and over a stranded Patrick Schulte 16 minutes in.

Both sides then struggled to make inroads, but Casemiro endured a difficult home debut as he stretched to reach Taha Habroune's low cross, only to inadvertently turn it in after 34 minutes.

Miami had the lead at half-time as Noah Allen rose high to thump in Suarez's cross from the byline in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, with the goal given following a VAR review.

Suarez was denied at close-range one-on-one with Schulte after the break, while Messi fired wide and Sekou Bangoura's deflected shot struck the crossbar.

But new signing Mendez kept pushing and eventually got his reward with a lovely free-kick that missed everyone and nestled into the bottom-left corner six minutes from time.

Suarez shines again despite Miami's winning run ending

Miami were on a club-record six-game winning streak heading into their meeting with Columbus, but the Crew ensured they did not leave empty-handed.

Suarez was the driving force in the first half and now has four goals and one assist in the Herons' three games since the World Cup break, and seven goals in his last four matches.

Messi made his return in the 53rd minute, playing for the first time since the World Cup final, and finished with a team-high four shots – including a late header that was saved – and five touches in the opposition box, but he could not find a way past Schulte.

It was Mendez who had the final say, netting his first goal for Columbus on his debut after signing from Real Sociedad.

The Crew did finish with 13 shots to Miami's 12, but the hosts will feel they deserved to win having racked up 1.24 expected goals (xG), compared to Columbus' 0.71 xG.