Lewandowski Meets Messi Before a Record Crowd as Fire and Inter Miami Draw 1-1

Photos by: Jessica Choragwicki

Soldier Field had never held a crowd like this for the Chicago Fire. A club-record sellout of 63,094 packed the lakefront on Wednesday night for the first MLS meeting between Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, and the two sides finished level, drawing 1-1.

Lewandowski struck first for Chicago, Casemiro answered with a header for Inter Miami, and Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady did the rest with six saves to keep the point at home.

Game Flow Recap: Lewandowski Strikes Early

Chicago did not need long to give the crowd what it came for. In the 10th minute, Andrew Gutman sent in a cross and Lewandowski finished it for his sixth MLS goal, with Lod picking up the secondary assist.

Miami grew into the game after that. Rodrigo De Paul and Segovia began to control the middle of the field from about the 15th minute on, and the visitors finished the night with 54 percent of the ball.

Brady kept the lead intact before the break, including a diving stop on Berterame in the 16th minute.

Star Performer: Chris Brady

Miami took 20 shots to Chicago's 10 and put seven of them on target. Brady stopped six, and his early save on Berterame set the tone for a night when the Fire were often defending deep.

At the other end, Miami's Dayne St. Clair made two saves on Chicago's three shots on target.

Turning Point: Casemiro From a Messi Set Piece

The equalizer came right after halftime. Messi delivered a set piece and Casemiro rose to head it in around the 48th minute, his third straight match scoring with a header.

The assist was Messi's league-leading 13th, and it made him the first player with 30 or more goal contributions in three different MLS seasons. He played all 90 minutes, and his free kick in stoppage time was blocked by the wall.

What It Means

Chicago moves to 11-6-6 with 39 points. The Fire are unbeaten in seven, their longest run since 2017, though Wednesday was also their fourth straight draw. They host New England on Sunday, September 13.

Inter Miami moves to 12-4-8 with 44 points, second in the Eastern Conference, and hosts Nashville on Saturday, September 12.