Philadelphia Union were up 3–1 with just minutes remaining when Lionel Messi stepped up and scored a stunning free-kick to spark hope for Inter Miami. Moments later, the team found the equalizer in a dramatic Major League Soccer finish.
Saturday night’s match at Subaru Park had everything to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. MLS leaders Philadelphia Union held the lead for most of the game, but the Herons found their reward in the closing moments.
Just seven minutes into the first half, Quinn Sullivan opened the scoring after a quick corner kick that caught the defense off guard. The 21-year-old midfielder had time to settle inside the box and fired a beautiful shot past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. That lead was extended just before halftime when Tai Baribo struck with a powerful right-footed finish.
In the second half, Inter Miami came out with renewed energy in search of a goal, and they found it 15 minutes in, when Jordi Alba set up Tadeo Allende for a header that cut the deficit. That goal gave Javier Mascherano’s side even more momentum, and they pushed forward aggressively—leaving space at the back that their opponents quickly exploited. Once again, Baribo found himself unmarked in the box to score, though the play was met with offside protests that were waved off by VAR.
Messi saves Inter Miami
The Herons were down by two goals with just three minutes remaining in regulation when referee Drew Fischer awarded them a free kick just outside the box. Naturally, it was Messi who stepped up—and he delivered with stunning precision and power, beating goalkeeper Andrew Rick.
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With the deficit narrowed and a few minutes still on the clock, Inter Miami threw everything forward in search of the equalizer. In those final moments, anything could have happened: Philadelphia’s Danley Jean Jacques had a golden opportunity with a header that went just wide, and then Telasco Segovia became the hero.
With only seconds left, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba exchanged a few passes on the left side. The ball found its way to Segovia, who controlled it and fired a powerful shot inside the left post to seal the 3–3 draw.
What’s next for Inter Miami?
With their last-minute draw against Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami avoided what would have been their sixth loss in their last eight matches. Now, they’ll face two more MLS games in the coming days: on Wednesday, they’ll take on CF Montreal at Chase Stadium, followed by another home clash against New England Revolution next Saturday.
These two matches will be the Herons’ final official games before the start of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Their debut in the tournament is set for Saturday, June 14, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, where they’ll face Egypt’s Al Ahly in the opening match. After that, they’ll go up against Porto and Palmeiras in the group stage as they aim to advance to the Round of 16.
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