Inter Miami 1-1 Charlotte FC: Messi scores but Suarez miss proves costly
Inter Miami will need to win all three of their remaining fixtures to break the regular-season points record in MLS.
Lionel Messi scored but Inter Miami failed to puncture Charlotte FC's resolve as they were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Messi netted with a brilliant, low strike from the edge of the area to drag Miami level in the 67th minute at Chase Stadium.
His equaliser came 10 minutes after Karol Swiderski had diverted in Brandt Bronico's effort to give Dean Smith's Charlotte an unlikely lead.
Miami thought they had a penalty just after Messi's equaliser, but after consulting with the VAR, referee Ramy Touchan amended his decision to award a spot-kick for a foul on Diego Gomez, with that call also sparing Adilson Malanda from receiving a second yellow card.
Charlotte substitute Patrick Agyemang had a goal disallowed for offside as the frantic pace continued, though the best opportunity for a winner fell to Miami star Luis Suarez, only for the former Barcelona and Liverpool forward to slice over from point-blank range.
The draw leaves Miami needing to win all three of their remaining regular-season matches to break the single-season MLS points record of 73, which was set by the New England Revolution in 2021. Charlotte, meanwhile, are not sure of their place in the playoffs just yet.
Elsewhere in MLS on Saturday, New York City FC, the New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, the Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles FC and the Seattle Sounders all clinched their playoff berths.
Data Debrief: Miami's Messi problem?
Messi scored, had 10 shots, got five on target, had 15 touches in Charlotte's box, and created two chances for his team-mates, yet Miami could still not get over the line.
The issue for Gerardo Martino is, it is becoming a trend when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner plays - and he will always play when he is fit, of course.
It can hardly be considered Messi's fault, but Miami have now won only one of the last six matches he has featured in dating back to late May (D3 L1). In the 13 matches Messi has missed in all competitions in that time, Miami have posted a record of W10 D0 L3, and it is a worrying drop-off heading into the playoffs.