Thiaré’s Stoppage-Time Winner Sinks Messi and Inter Miami as Crew Win 2-1

Photos by: Jonathan Mensah

Lionel Messi did his part. Jamal Thiaré had the final word. The substitute pounced on a loose ball in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give the Columbus Crew a 2-1 win over Inter Miami on Sunday night, the Crew's first MLS win over Miami since 2022.

Columbus Crew 2, Inter Miami CF 1
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field | Sunday, Sept. 27

Columbus went ahead in the 28th minute. Yannick Bright dragged down Josef Martínez on a corner, and Martínez converted the penalty for his first MLS goal with the Crew and the 131st of his MLS career.

Miami's lead scorer answered five minutes later. Messi curled a left-footed free kick from a tight angle on the right into the far upper corner for his 21st goal of the season, keeping him atop the Golden Boot race. Patrick Schulte kept him from adding another in the 62nd minute, parrying a shot from 15 yards with both hands.

The Crew kept coming. Anass Zaroury hit the woodwork three times, and Columbus finished with nine corners to Miami's one. Miami went down to 10 men in stoppage time when substitute Santiago Morales picked up a second yellow card, and two minutes later Rocco Ríos Novo spilled a shot from Brais Méndez. Thiaré, on since the 83rd minute, was there to finish it.

Player of the match: Jamal Thiaré needed only a few minutes off the bench to decide it.

Stat to know: Columbus outshot Miami 13-5 and put six shots on target to Miami's three. Miami managed only one shot in the first half.

What it means: The Crew climbed to 29 points, four out of the last playoff spot in the East with seven games left. Miami, missing seven players to international duty, stayed third in the East with 46 points but is now winless in five.

Up next: Both teams play Saturday, Oct. 10. The Crew visit Orlando City, and Miami hosts D.C. United.