Luis Suarez scored a goal and assisted on another, but Columbus’ Brais Mendez’s late equalizer left host Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew with a 2-2 draw Saturday night.
Suarez scored for the third consecutive match since Inter Miami (11-2-5, 38 points) resumed play following the World Cup break.
Noah Allen broke a 1-1 stalemate when he headed home a cross from Suarez in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.
It was Allen’s first goal of the season, and ended up counting after video assisted review overturned an initial offside call on Suarez.
But Mendez answered when he scored off a free kick in the 84th minute to secure one point for the Crew (5-8-5, 20 points) as they try to move back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
With the result, Inter Miami squandered a chance to level with Nashville SC for the most points in MLS as the club chases its second Supporters’ Shield trophy in three seasons. Instead, Nashville remains two points ahead of Inter Miami with 40 points.
The game began 40 minutes late following a weather delay. It didn’t affect Suarez.
Suarez opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he scored his 10th goal of the season and his seventh goal in four matches.
Yannick Bright stole the ball just past midfield and directed it to Suarez, who launched a high-arching shot that bounced past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who was off his line.
Columbus drew even in the 34th minute on an own goal by Casemiro, who tried sweeping away a cross by Hugo Picard but accidentally kicked into the back of the net and past Miami keeper Rocco Rios Novo’s reach.
Lionel Messi entered the game in the 53rd minute and saw his first action since playing his final World Cup games for Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul also returned and started for Miami.
Messi did not score but had two great chances in the second half, missing wide on both, including a close attempt in stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
