Lionel Messi scores first goal since father's death, adds assist in 2-2 draw - Watch
Lionel Messi scored and provided an assist as Inter Miami drew 2-2 with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night (local time).Messi set up Miami's opening goal in the 21st minute. His cross was headed by Luis Suarez into the path of Daniel Pinter, who finished to put Miami ahead.Five minutes later, Messi added a goal of his own.
Cutting inside onto his left foot from 12 yards, he curled the ball into the corner for his first goal since returning to action following the death of his father.Messi now has 13 goals and nine assists in 17 MLS games this season. Against the Union, he has six goals and four assists in six matches across all competitions.\Philadelphia responded through Indiana Vassilev, who scored from a volley in the first half.
Cavan Sullivan, the Union's 16-year-old midfielder, was credited with his seventh assist of the season on the goal.The Union then tied the score in the 58th minute when 18-year-old defender Neil Pierre headed in his third goal in five games this season.Philadelphia appeared to go further ahead in the 62nd minute when Milan Iloski found the net, but the goal was ruled out after a review because Pierre was offside in the buildup.The match ended with two red cards in stoppage time.
Inter Miami's Yannick Bright and Philadelphia's Sullivan were sent off following a scuffle away from the ball.Inter Miami, now 11-3-6, entered the game second in the Eastern Conference after losing 4-1 to leaders Nashville on Saturday. Messi played the full 90 minutes in that match, missing a penalty, hitting the post twice and assisting Telasco Segovia's goal.
He also had 11 shots, the most by any player in the game.The Nashville defeat ended Miami's seven-game unbeaten run in MLS, which had included six wins and one draw since May 9. Miami had also lost three straight matches in all competitions after defeats to two Mexican clubs in the Leagues Cup.Messi came on as a substitute in Miami's 1-0 loss to Leon on August 12 and played 45 minutes.
He had missed the August 8 match against Monterrey after travelling home for the funeral of his father, Jorge, who died on August 7.The Union, now 5-10-5, have gone five games without a defeat, winning four and drawing one since Ryan Richter took over as interim coach.Rodrigo De Paul, who was part of Argentina's team that finished runner-up at the World Cup alongside Messi, missed Wednesday's game through suspension after accumulating yellow cards.Miami had beaten Philadelphia 6-4 on May 24, in the last match for both teams before the World Cup break.
Messi did not score in that game, while Suarez hit a hat-trick as Miami recovered from first-half deficits of 2-0 and 3-1.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.