Subaru Park—Lionel Messi led Inter Miami CF to a sensational come-from-behind road draw against first-place Philadelphia Union. After going down 2-0 in the first half and 3-1 after 73 minutes, the Goat willed the Herons to an important 3-3 tie. Tadeo Allende, Lionel Messi, and Telasco Segovia scored for Miami. Tai Baribo, with a brace, and Quinn Sullivan were the goal scorers for Philadelphia.
Lionel #Messi wills #InterMiamiCF to a 3-3 draw on the road 🆚 Philadelphia Union, the 1st place team in the Eastern Conference…Mascherano is alive because of Lionel’s magic 🪄 #MLS pic.twitter.com/JQdlIwRx8N
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Starting XI
Inter Miami CF Head Coach Javier Mascherano adjusted his starting lineup versus Philadelphia. Masch paired Toto Aviles with Gonzalo Lujan at center back, and gave Ian Fray another start at right back. Jordi Alba once again played on the left flank in the midfield.
The Herons Starting XI sees Toto Avilés pair up with Gonzalo Lujan at center-back, adding some speed to the back line… Ian Fray gets another big opportunity at right back..4-4-2…#InterMiamiCF #Messi #MLS pic.twitter.com/1gWgwjdKbI
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 24, 2025
Match Action
A recurring theme for Inter Miami during their dreadful stretch of results has been their lack of focus and urgency on defense. Saturday night in Philadelphia was no different, as Quinn Sullivan took advantage of a distracted team to score Philly’s 1st goal seven minutes into the match.
Quinn received a short pass off a corner kick in the box without a Heron player anywhere near him. Sullivan then ripped a bending shot beautifully into the side net of the Miami goal for the 1-0 Union lead.
Terrible lack of defensive awareness by #InterMiamiCF on a short corner by Philly… Quinn Sullivan receives all alone inside the box & then blasts the shot past Ustari & into the net.. 1-0 Philly seven minutes into the match… #MLS #Messi
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 24, 2025
The Union was outhustling Miami, playing with great intensity, pressing high, and using their team speed to make it difficult for the Herons to play cleanly out of the back.
Tai Baribo increased Philly’s lead to 2-0 in the 44th minute after rocketing a loose ball in the box past Oscar Ustari. Miami’s defense continues to give up goals off set pieces, this time off a throw-in near the goal area.
All he does is score goals! 😤
Tai Baribo scores his MLS best 12th goal to put @PhilaUnion up 2-0 over Miami before half. pic.twitter.com/1f1vS2EeXN
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 25, 2025
The Herons finally showed signs of life in the 2nd half as Tadeo Allende headed in a wonderful cross by Noah Allen to cut the lead to 2-1.
Miami shows a sign of life with a header by Tadeo Allende to make the match 2-1…Can the Herons show some passion & some quality to turn this game around? #MLS #Messi #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Ten minutes later, Tai Baribo increased the Union’s lead to 3-1, scoring on a play where he appeared to be slightly offside. VAR did not review the play. Inter Miami seemed destined for another loss, but Lionel Messi would not accept another ugly loss.
Baribo scores Philly’s 3rd on a play where he appears to be slightly offside, but VAR does not review…#MLS #InterMiamiCF
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Lionel Messi sparked the Inter Miami comeback with a majestic free kick in the 87th minute. The Goat gave the Herons life and belief with his out-of-this-world Golazo!
#Messi magic! 🪄 Lionel refuses to give up & pulls #InterMiamiCF closer with a majestic free kick for the 3-2 score line…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Telasco Segovia completed Miami’s gritty comeback with a phenomenal missile of a shot into the top corner of the Philly net. The Herons tied the match 3-3 with guts, passion, and sheer will, led by Lionel Messi.
Telasco Segovia !!! Arepa 🫓 Power ! The young Venezuelan powers the shot into the Philly net to tie the match 3-3…The Herons show heart ❤️ #Messi refused to lose & the boys followed his lead…#InterMiamiCF #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Postgame
Javier Mascherano let everyone know that he ripped into the team at halftime with Inter Miami down 2-0 to Philly,
I talked to them at the halftime and told them that we are in a situation that is s**t, s**t. We are in the s**t
It’s about time Mascherano agitates his squad for underperforming, including the Barca Boys. The effort and intensity have not been there. If the quality is missing, the effort has to always be present.
Mascherano also mentioned how the team showed character and grit in the second half, coming back from a two-goal deficit on the road against the first-place team in the conference,
The guys showed a lot of character. They showed that they want to fight… We are in a situation, in a bad dynamic, but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team that we were in the beginning of this season
It was only a draw in Philly, but the grit, fire, and determination the Herons showed in the 2nd half against the best team in the conference on the road showed that this team is not dead yet. Inter Miami haters rejoice at the fact that the team is in a bad place right now, but the season is long, and if Miami is willing to fight, the season can be turned around.
The Herons didn’t soar, but they also didn’t crash 💥 & burn in Philly…3-3 draw that showed #InterMiamiCF still has a pulse…Mascherano lives to fight another day thanks to some #Messi magic 🪄 #MLS pic.twitter.com/dzHurtIOYJ
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 25, 2025
Final Thoughts
Javier Mascherano finally blasted his team for their poor performance in a game. It has been a dreadful stretch for Miami, and this should have happened long ago. The Herons cannot accept the terrible performances from players who, at times, looked distracted and disinterested. Mascherano also needs to demand more from his star players, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba. All three of them have had notable drop-offs from last season’s performances. Messi is not immune to criticism, but he is still playing at a very high level.
Messi willed Inter Miami to a draw with his majestic free-kick goal late in the match. The Goat is still making magic happen for Miami, now he needs more help from the rest of the Barca Boys, especially Luis Suarez.
Jordi Alba has been average as a midfielder for Inter Miami. In my eyes, the experiment has failed and he should return to left back.
Toto Aviles and Gonzalo Lujan made an interesting center-back combo against Philadelphia. Perhaps Toto and Noah Allen would be even better for Miami?
Luis Suarez might need some time on the bench. Does Mascherano have the guts and authority to make it happen?
It was only a 3-3 draw, but the team showed heart, grit, and fight. Could this finally be the moment the team turns its fortunes around? It’s a long season, and only time will tell.
About Post Author
More Stories
Matchday 15: Orlando City SC vs the Portland Timbers Preview
Mascherano’s Miami Is In a Mess
Miami’s Unlucky Seven; Will Thirteen Change Their Fortunes?