Lower.Com Field – An exciting match between two of the best teams in MLS had Inter Miami clinch the 2024 MLS Supporter’s Shield with a 2-3 win over the Columbus Crew. Lionel Messi bagged a brace and Luis Suarez scored a goal for the Herons. Diego Rossi and Cucho Hernandez put one in the back of the net each for Columbus.
Starting XI
Tata’s tactics were on display Wednesday night in Columbus as he returned to the 5-3-2 formation against the defending MLS Champions. The formation shift was intended in all likelihood as extra protection against the powerful Crew attack and added support due to Messi’s defensive lapses. Drake Callender started in goal, with Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Sergio Busquets, Ian Fray, and Marcelo Weigandt. The youthful midfield consisted of Diego Gomez, Yannick Bright, and Federico Redondo. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez formed the legendary duo up front.
The Starting XI for #InterMiamiCF looks like they will form a 5-3-2 …Ian Fray & Noah Allen get the start…Gomez, Bright, Redondo in midfield…#Messi & Suarez the legendary duo up top…#MLS pic.twitter.com/7bKFWGx4Jx
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 2, 2024
Match Action
Columbus began the match on all cylinders managing possession and keeping Inter Miami on their heels. Nearly ten minutes in Cucho Hernandez bombed a shot past Drake Callender for the apparent 1-0 Crew lead. Unfortunately for Columbus, Cucho was offside. Inter Miami had a goal of their own called back for what appeared to be a phantom offside call. The referee assistant seemed to have called Diego Gomez offside on a play where Gomez had no influence or chance on a cross that a Crew defender kicked into their own goal.
Near the end of the half, Jordi Alba launched a long pass over the Columbus defense toward Lionel Messi. He stopped it with his chest, faked out two defenders with one cut, and poked the ball past the Columbus goalie for the Miami 1-0 lead.
Lionel #Messi brings down a long Jordi Alba pass down with supreme quality & puts #InterMiamiCF ahead 0-1…The Crew was outplaying Miami but Lionel changed that in an instant..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
The Messi magic show continued before the end of the half. A foul call near the top of the Crew goalbox gave Lionel Messi a perfect shot at a free kick. The Goat curled a potent shot around the wall and into the Crew net, and Lionel’s Golazo gave Miami a 2-0 lead.
Lionel The Goat 🐐 #Messi does it again! Masterful free kick to put #InterMiamiCF ahead 0-2…The King 👑 of Futbol is on the pitch making magic 🪄 happen…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
Miami went into the half with a two-goal lead without really outplaying Columbus. The difference was the greatness of Lionel Messi. The second half began with a bang, with Diego Rossi slashing a left-footed shot past Drake Callender to cut the Miami lead to 2-1.
Rossi gets us on the board 💪
Continue the fight 👊 pic.twitter.com/MgN3Um15jH— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) October 3, 2024
Almost immediately Luis Suarez answered with a goal of his own. A long pass from Ian Fray was mishandled by the Crew goalie as he ran into his defender, leaving a bouncing ball for Suarez to head in for the 3-1 lead.
Luis Suarez heads Miami’s third goal in after a mishap between the Columbus goalie & a defender…Fast response for #InterMiamiCF 1-3..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
Noah Allen was called for a handball in the penalty area leading to a Cucho Hernandez score from the spot.
Cucho Hernández puts the penalty kick into the back of the net to make it 2-3…Columbus refuses to go away…#InterMiamiCF #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
The Crew refused to go away, but Miami caught a break when Rudy Camacho was booked with his second yellow card of the match and was sent to the showers early. Despite being down a man, Columbus attacked relentlessly and created several dangerous scoring opportunities until the end of the match.
Inter Miami held on until the final whistle and crowned themselves Supporter’s Shield Champions, on the road in a hostile environment.
Postgame
Ian Fray was interviewed after the match by Apple TV’s Jillian Sakovits and was asked what it meant to come back from three ACL surgeries and to be on the field for the Supporter’s Shield trophy,
This is amazing, I can’t stress it enough this is what I was waiting for. I say it every time, this is what I wished for and being waiting for since I was a kid. Just to be on the field with the greatest player alive and winning these trophies I wouldn’t have thought it after the one, two, and three injuries but now that I’m here it’s amazing
A true warrior… Ian Fray has battled through multiple career threatening knee injuries & today he played a great match to be a part of the Supporter’s Shield 🛡️ winning squad…Tata said he could be in the #USMNT sights for 2026…#InterMiamiCF #MLSCup #MLS https://t.co/VmnZgrAXPZ
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
Fray’s comeback story is amazing and he’s amazing. Three strikes, but instead of being out Fray is on top of the MLS world. He’s living a dream after willing himself past the nightmare of injuries. This team is special, not just because of Messi and the Barca Boys but because of players like Ian Fray who have paid the price.
Final Thoughts
Inter Miami CF are the Supporter’s Shield Champions if you will, and they accomplished the feat in a particular way. The Herons collected the majority of points when their best player Lionel Messi was unavailable. That is unheard of, but in Miami it is true. Now some fans believe the team is better without Messi, that is insane. Lionel is still not 100% at peak level and he is still the difference maker for the squad. If what he just did in Columbus on an off night doesn’t convince you, nothing will.
Much is said about Messi and the Fantastics and all the star veterans but little is spoken about the Young Herons. They too have played a big part in this campaign and will continue to be important come the playoffs.
The Young Herons have also played an important role in conquering the #MLS Supporter’s Shield 🛡️…#InterMiamiCF #MLSCup #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/90f39u4fSj
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) October 3, 2024
The points record is within reach and it seems like destiny wants Miami to break the record at home against the current record holder, New England Revolution. It would be marvelous if that were to happen. Will Tata prioritize rotations now that the Shield was clinched, or will he go all out and try to break the record with the starters and win the MLS Cup too?
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