Anders Dreyer netted a late equaliser to earn San Diego FC a 2-2 draw with Inter Miami, who were held to a fourth straight stalemate despite Lionel Messi's free-kick.
Inter Miami 2-2 San Diego FC: Dreyer strikes late to deny Messi and co.
Inter Miami's recent struggles continued as they played out yet another draw in MLS, losing more ground on the Eastern Conference leaders.
Dreyer opened the scoring early on, but Miami turned the game on its head, with Messi and Luis Suarez both hitting the back of the net, only for San Diego's striker to complete his brace with eight minutes remaining at Nu Stadium.
San Diego's 12th-minute opener came out of nowhere as Jeppe Tverskov slotted a perfectly weighted throughball in behind for Dreyer, who charged in behind Miami's defense from the halfway line before dinking a lovely shot over Dayne St. Clair.
Twelve minutes later, Miami were back on level terms. Messi's free-kick looked to be more of a cross as it floated towards the far post, but it missed everyone in the middle and snuck in.
German Berterame's curler was cleared in front of the line by the retreating Ian Murphy, but San Diego could not clear their lines as Yannick Bright picked out Messi, whose first-time shot was kept out by CJ dos Santos.
Marcus Ingvartsen had a goal disallowed shortly after at the other end for an offside in the build-up, while Dos Santos punched away an awkward strike from Suarez.
But the Uruguayan soon got his goal in the 74th minute, lifting over Dos Santos from a tight angle to find the far corner.
Miami's lead only lasted eight minutes, though, with Dreyer again timing his run to perfection to meet a Tverskov pass, and a rooted St. Clair could not get a hand to it.
Messi had the chance to win it in stoppage time, bending a low shot through the crowded box, but Dos Santos got down to keep it out despite seeing it late, meaning Miami sit 11 points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC.
Messi makes more history despite Miami's frustrations
While Miami are unbeaten in their last five matches, they have drawn each of the last four, having held the lead in three of those.
But Messi has played his part in trying to get Miami back to winning ways, and netted his 101st goal for the Herons in total, while extending his lead in the Golden Boot race, as it was his 20th in MLS this season.
That means he is now just the second player in the league's history to score 20+ goals in three straight seasons, after Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga (2023-2025).
Messi finished the match with 10 shots – Miami had 19 overall – with five of those on target, while he also led the metrics for touches in the opposition box (14) and chances created (three).
But Dreyer ensured Messi would not end up on the winning side on Sunday, as he netted his 11th goal in MLS this term, more than any other San Diego player.
It was a vital point for San Diego, who halted a three-game losing streak and responded well to their 5-0 thumping at the hands of the Philadelphia Union.
