Inter Miami vs Charlotte player ratings: Lionel Messi saves Herons but late misses prove costly in a thrilling draw

Lionel Messi scored but it wasn’t enough as Inter Miami dropped points for the third straight season in a 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC.

An opportunistic Charlotte team largely found a way to keep Miami’s stars at bay, failing to pick up three points in a game where both sides will be disappointed.

The herons were quiet and largely ineffective for an hour, while Charlotte was more lavish. In the end, a draw seemed like an admittedly fair result – although Miami’s hopes of setting an MLS points record look increasingly remote.

In the first half, both teams exchanged chances. Messi shot just wide from the top of the penalty area. Karol Swiderski’s clever lob attempt landed on the roof of the net.

Charlotte took the lead in the 56th minute when Swiderski repelled Brandt Bronico’s shot past a wrong-footed Drake Callender. But just a few minutes later, Messi provided the necessary moment of magic when the Argentine fired a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.

The game was dragged out soon after. Miami had a penalty that was ruled out by VAR. Charlotte shot the ball into the net, but saw in the build-up play that it was ruled offside. The closest, however, was Luis Suarez, who fired a goal over the goal from close range with the last shot of the game.

There will be some frustrations here in Florida. Miami has now lost points for the third time in a row and is stumbling on the way to the Supporters Shield. The team has three more games left in which to claim the best MLS record, but has opened the door slightly for the Columbus Crew, who still have one game left.

GOAL assesses Inter Miami’s players from Chase Stadium…