Messi scores 76th free kick, Columbus beats Inter Miami 2-1

Jamal Thiaré scored the winner in stoppage time as Columbus Crew beat Inter Miami 2-1 on Sept. 27, Infobae reported. Josef Martínez opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Messi equalized with a free kick before Thiaré struck late.

Messi closes in on free-kick record

Messi's goal in the 32nd minute was his 76th from a free kick in his career, two behind Marcelinho Carioca's record of 78. The strike was also Messi's 931st professional goal, his 102nd for Inter Miami and his 21st of the MLS season. The Argentine has nine goals in his last eight MLS games. He had earlier appealed for a handball in the Columbus penalty area without success, and he later created two more chances that were not converted.

Another late defeat

The loss extended Inter Miami's winless run in MLS to five matches — four straight draws and now a defeat. Those draws came against Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, Nashville SC and San Diego FC. The team remains third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points. Santiago Morales was sent off after two yellow cards in three minutes, leaving Miami with ten men before Thiaré scored. For Miami fans, the setback means the club has won just once since the league resumed after the World Cup, and the team will now have to play without Messi while he joins Argentina for his farewell.

Defensive concerns mount

Inter Miami has conceded 48 goals in MLS this season, an average of 1.8 per game. Coach Cristian González said the defense made basic errors and that the long week would be used to work on them. Those issues surfaced again when Thiaré scored after Rocco Ríos Novo could not control a long rebound.

Missing players on both sides

Both teams were shorthanded. Inter Miami had seven players away on international duty and three out with injuries. Columbus was without its four leading scorers, including Wessam Abou Ali with a cruciate ligament injury, and sat 13th in the Eastern Conference with 26 points. Inter Miami, despite its recent form, entered with an MLS-best 2.4 goals per game average.

Argentina farewell next

Messi now heads to Argentina for his final match with the national team on Oct. 6 against Benin at El Monumental. He will end his Argentina career with 207 caps and 125 goals after winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América. The farewell match is sold out.