Inter Miami Player Ratings vs Columbus Crew: Messi Shines but Morales Red Card Costs the Match

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant free-kick for Inter Miami, but a late red card to Santiago Morales proved costly as Columbus Crew snatched a 2-1 victory with a stoppage-time winner by Jamal Thiare.

The match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field was a test of Miami's defensive structure, which eventually broke down in the dying moments. Miami set up in a 3-4-3 formation aimed at giving Messi freedom to create, but despite controlling 56% of possession, they managed only three shots on target.

The game pivoted around disciplinary issues and late defensive lapses. Messi’s goal in the 33rd minute cancelled out an early penalty from Josef Martinez, but Miami could not keep the pressure on. Morales’ quick double booking after coming on in the 86th minute reduced Miami to ten men, allowing Columbus to capitalize and seal the win deep into added time.

Goalkeeper & Defense

• Rocco Rios Novo - 6/10: Made four saves, showing sharp reflexes against Columbus’s six shots on target. Couldn’t stop the first-half penalty or the close-range winner in stoppage time.
• Gonzalo Lujan - 5/10: Had a tough night dealing with Columbus attackers, earned a yellow card in the 92nd minute, and was part of the defense that collapsed in extra time.
• Casemiro - 4/10: Out of position and lacking mobility, he struggled to track runs and was frequently targeted by the opposition.
• Micael - 6/10: The most composed central defender, making several important clearances throughout the game.

Midfield

• Facundo Mura - 6/10: Worked hard as wing-back, providing width and solid defense until his substitution in the 71st minute; received a yellow card for a tactical foul.
• Yannick Bright - 5/10: Struggled to influence midfield play, picked up a yellow card, and committed the foul that led to the penalty.
• Rodrigo De Paul - 6/10: Put in effort linking defense and attack but lacked his usual creative spark.
• Sergio Reguilon - 5/10: Offered some outlet on the left flank but was inconsistent with delivery and had trouble tracking overlapping runs.

Attack

• Lionel Messi - 7/10: Once again the team's best player, converting the equalizer with precision despite Miami’s overall offensive struggles.
• Luis Suarez - 6/10: A quiet performance, often isolated upfront, failing to register any shots on target but helped create space for Messi.
• Daniel Pinter - 5/10: Had limited involvement in attacking moves and remained peripheral.

Substitutes & Manager

• David Ayala - 6/10: Came on at halftime, stabilized midfield and helped maintain possession, but didn’t provide decisive passes.
• Riquelme Fillipi - 5/10: Subbed in the 71st minute but failed to impact the increasingly fragmented game.
• Santiago Morales - 2/10: His brief appearance turned disastrous with two quick yellow cards leading to a red, leaving Miami a man down at a critical moment.
• Ezequiel Abadia-Reda - N/A: Too little time on the field for assessment.
• Kily Gonzalez - 5/10: The manager’s 3-4-3 system held possession but lacked punch, and the introduction of Morales backfired, leaving the team tactically unsettled after the sending off.

Match Details

• Score: Columbus Crew 2 – 1 Inter Miami
• Goals: Josef Martinez (28' pen), Lionel Messi (33'), Jamal Thiare (90+9')
• Red Card: Santiago Morales (90+6', second yellow)