Inter Miami staged a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, despite struggling with defensive issues throughout the match. It was an exciting match that played out at Subaru Park. Inter Miami—coached by Men In Blazers favorite, Javier Mascherano—faced off against the Supporters Shield leaders of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer. This draw provided Inter Miami with their first point in a disastrous stretch. That forms a worrying line of form for Luis Garcia’s side, having won only once in eight overall matches.
Friday’s match could not have started worse for Inter Miami. It took just until the 7th minute for Quinn Sullivan to punish a sloppy defensive play, giving The Union the early lead. Then, just before halftime, Israeli forward Tai Baribo made things worse. It didn’t take long for him to double Philadelphia’s lead to 2-0, finishing a breakaway goal after Jean-Jacques Danley pounced on an errant pass. Inter Miami’s defensive problems have been on full display in recent weeks, with the team allowing 23 goals in their last eight games.
After that difficult opening, Mascherano’s team came out firing in the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo may be gone, but Lionel Messi’s presence has made for great theatre. With just three minutes remaining in regulation, he brought the visitors back to life, burying a 25-yard free kick with authority for his sixth goal of 2023.
Roosevelt’s Telasco Segovia set the stage for late-game theatrics by scoring the equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time. This amazing strike brought the game level at 2-2. Segovia shared the moment with his teammates, including Messi, as they earned a vital point against all odds from a tough match.
Mascherano admitted that they are down in the dumps for the moment, but said there is a determination in the group to fight their way back.
“We showed character, personality. It was another difficult start of the game for us because in the beginning, we conceded the goal, but the guys showed they want to fight to get out of this situation,” – Javier Mascherano.
He emphasized the need for better focus in crucial moments:
“We are in a bad trend but with a lot of spirit to come back to be the team we were at the beginning of the season,” – Javier Mascherano.
Despite the loss in this match, Inter Miami stays in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The team’s ability to overcome adversity and secure a draw against a top opponent may serve as a turning point as they look to regain form in the coming weeks.
“We cannot concede every single corner kick and every single throw-in and give opponents opportunities to score. We need to be more focused in those situations,” – Javier Mascherano.
Following this match, Inter Miami remains sixth in the Eastern Conference. The team’s ability to overcome adversity and secure a draw against a top opponent may serve as a turning point as they look to regain form in the coming weeks.
