Lionel Messi Scores 101st Goal as Inter Miami Draws 2-2 with San Diego FC, Manager Gonzalez Frustrated

Lionel Messi added another milestone to his tally, scoring his 101st goal for Inter Miami with a signature free-kick. Despite this brilliance, Miami had to settle for a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC in a Major League Soccer clash that left new manager Kily Gonzalez visibly annoyed by defensive mistakes.

Match Highlights

• Early Lead: Anders Dreyer gave San Diego an early advantage.
• Messi’s Response: The Argentine curled in a free-kick to level the score.
• Suarez’s Strike: Luis Suarez seemed to have sealed victory for Miami with a goal in the 74th minute.
• Dreyer’s Late Equalizer: Dreyer completed his brace late on, denying Miami the win.

This result extended Inter Miami’s run to four straight draws in MLS and made Gonzalez’s league debut more frustrating. The team sits third in the Eastern Conference, trailing leaders Nashville by 11 points.

Gonzalez Criticizes Defensive Performance

Despite the attacking efforts from Messi and Suarez, Gonzalez did not hold back in criticizing the defensive lapses that cost his side. After a ball was played over Miami’s defense allowing Dreyer to score, Gonzalez expressed his frustration on the sideline.

"We've been here for only four days and haven't had proper training. Defensively, we need to be much stronger," said Gonzalez, as reported by ESPN.

"We can't allow these defensive horrors; they come at a high cost. That final moment shouldn’t have happened. It's surreal to be close to winning and nearly lose it. We only avoided defeat because our goalkeeper saved us."

Signs of Complacency?

Messi’s free-kick was his 20th league goal of the season and marked his eighth free-kick goal since joining MLS in 2023. He had recently reached 100 goals for Miami during their Campeones Cup triumph over Cruz Azul. Still, Gonzalez hinted this recent success might have caused some loss of focus among players.

"I think the Campeones Cup might have had an unconscious effect, especially in the first half, leading to a bit of complacency," Gonzalez admitted.

He added, "At a club where we're expected to win every match, we have to step up. On the bright side, there were good moments, but I need to improve the defensive aspect because that's what worries me most."

Upcoming Fixtures

Inter Miami will look to break their streak of draws when they visit the Columbus Crew next Sunday, aiming to reduce the gap at the top of the table. Meanwhile, San Diego FC travel to face Austin FC on Saturday.

• Austin FC vs San Diego FC: September 27, 2026, 03:30
• Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami: September 28, 2026, 02:00