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Brais Méndez spoils Messi's return, securing 2-2 draw for Columbus Crew
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Brais Méndez spoils Messi's return, securing 2-2 draw for Columbus Crew

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami's lineup, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute with his team leading 2-1.
  • Columbus Crew secured a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami after Brais Méndez scored a late equalizer in the 85th minute.
  • The result leaves Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference standings with 38 points, while Columbus Crew aims to improve its playoff position.

Lionel Messi made his return to Inter Miami's lineup on Saturday, entering the match as a substitute in the 63rd minute against Columbus Crew. At the time of his entry, Inter Miami held a 2-1 lead, bolstered by goals from Luis Suárez and Noah Allen. Messi had taken a few days off following Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain.

A goal by Spaniard Brais Méndez in the 85th minute decided the 2-2 draw for Columbus Crew at Inter Miami's home ground in the return of Lionel Messi with the Herons after taking a few days off following the World Cup final lost against Spain.

— Article TextDescribing the decisive goal and Messi's return.

The match saw Inter Miami take an early lead in the 16th minute when Luis Suárez scored from 40 yards out, catching the Crew's goalkeeper off his line. However, Columbus Crew equalized in the 34th minute due to an own goal by Casemiro. Just before halftime, Noah Allen restored Inter Miami's lead with a header assisted by Suárez.

Messi's return was met with applause from the home crowd at DRV PNK Stadium. Despite the boost from Messi's presence, Inter Miami could not secure the victory. In the 85th minute, Columbus Crew's new signing, Brais Méndez, delivered a cross from 35 yards out that found the back of the net, leveling the score at 2-2.

Messi was a substitute in Inter Miami's starting eleven and came onto the field in the 63rd minute, when his team was leading 2-1 thanks to a great goal by Uruguayan Luis Suárez and a goal by Noah Allen.

— Article TextDetailing Messi's substitution and the score at that point.

This late equalizer earned Columbus Crew a valuable point as they compete for a playoff spot in the MLS. Inter Miami currently sits second in the Eastern Conference standings with 38 points.

The new Crew signing thus delivered a valuable point to his team, which is fighting to get closer to the 'playoffs' zone in the MLS.

— Article TextExplaining the significance of the draw for Columbus Crew.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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