By defeating the Columbus Crew at Lower.com field 3-2 on Wednesday in an instant classic, Inter Miami have secured their second trophy in team history by winning the Supporters’ Shield for collecting the most points of any team in Major League Soccer. The Herons have accomplished the feat with two games to spare but they won’t be stopping there with a chance at the league points record within reach.
Heading into the half, it seemed like it would be a simple victory for Miami with Lionel Messi taking over to give the Herons a 2-0 lead. The Argentine, who scored twice, registered his second goal and 17th goal of the season with vintage free-kick magic.
But the Crew are a team who won’t quit. Diego Rossi scored right after the half to get the home side on the board. Miami would net a third, this time from Luis Suarez who also won Messi’s free kick before the half, but then the Crew stormed back. Cucho Hernandez got a chance from the spot after Noah Allen’s hand ball and he wouldn’t miss.
Miami received a stroke of fortune with Rudy Camacho receiving two yellow cards in four minutes to be sent off but then the Crew received a massive penalty. After a cross by Derrick Jones hit the arm of Ian Fray, the Crew had another penalty awarded but it was a poor take by Hernandez making for an easy save by Drake Callender.
It was a match that had everything which is to be expected when the top two teams in the Eastern Conference meet. This is a matchup that could be coming around again during the MLS Cup Playoffs. It’s too soon to call the match a rivalry between these two but these are the types of games that help spawn new rivals competing for silverware.
Statistically, the Crew actually created more chances than the Herons turning their eight shots into 1.81 xG compared to Miami’s five shots for a 0.99 xG but when you have Messi and Suarez, low percentage shots for others aren’t always for them.
It’s not over for the Herons with this as they need two more wins to set a new MLS single-season points record which they could do in poetic fashion. On the final day of the season, they’ll square off against the current holders of the record, the New England Revolution, with a chance to set a new one. Then there will be a chance to hoist the MLS Cup and secure a third trophy in the Messi era at the club.
