Messi and Inter Miami fail to fire as late goal earns Cincinnati a draw

What the report says

Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night, in a match reported by Al Jazeera to have been played in Miami and decided by a late equaliser. The result left Lionel Messi’s side slipping to third in the Eastern Conference after New England beat the New York Red Bulls 3-2, reducing Miami’s margin for error in the race for the postseason standings.

Miami led through a second-half Luis Suarez goal before Cincinnati responded with two quick strikes. Al Jazeera reported that French midfielder Kenji Mboma Dem scored the first Cincinnati leveller with a curling effort in the 80th minute, and defender Samuel Gidi then put the visitors ahead six minutes later with another long-range finish. Inter Miami rescued a point when substitute Riquelme Fillipi bent in a late equaliser.

The match mattered because Miami are trying to secure a higher playoff seed, while Cincinnati are fighting to stay in the automatic qualification positions. Al Jazeera said Messi was closely marked and struggled to create chances, while Miami’s next league game against New England could further shape their final placement in the East. Nashville SC, meanwhile, had already clinched the Supporters’ Shield, according to the report.