Inter Miami Player Ratings vs Columbus Crew: Messi’s Magic Overshadowed by Morales’ Costly Red Card

Lionel Messi dazzled with a superb free-kick, yet Inter Miami fell 2-1 to Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field after a late red card to Santiago Morales shifted the match’s momentum.

The game was tightly contested, with Miami setting up in a 3-4-3 formation aimed at giving Messi space to create. They held 56% possession but managed just three shots on target, struggling under relentless pressure from Columbus. Early on, Josef Martinez put the hosts ahead from a penalty, but Messi equalized in the 33rd minute with clinical precision.

Miami's defensive structure unraveled after Morales came on as a substitute. His quick double booking in stoppage time left Miami a man down and opened the door for Jamal Thiare to score the winning goal in the 98th minute.

Goalkeeper & Defense

• Rocco Rios Novo - 6/10: Made four key saves and showed sharp reflexes, but couldn’t stop the penalty or the late decisive finish.
• Gonzalo Lujan - 5/10: Had trouble containing Columbus’ attack and earned a late yellow card; part of the defense that faltered in extra time.
• Casemiro - 4/10: Out of position, lacked mobility, and was targeted often by the opposition.
• Micael - 6/10: The steadier central defender, clearing crucial balls during tense moments.

Midfield

• Facundo Mura - 6/10: Provided width and defended well until his substitution; received a tactical yellow card.
• Yannick Bright - 5/10: Struggled to influence play and conceded the penalty leading to Columbus’ first goal.
• Rodrigo De Paul - 6/10: Worked hard connecting defense and attack but missed his usual spark.
• Sergio Reguilon - 5/10: Delivered inconsistent crosses and struggled against overlapping runs.

Attack

• Lionel Messi - 7/10: The standout performer who scored the equalizer, showcasing his enduring class despite limited support.
• Luis Suarez - 6/10: Quiet evening, often isolated upfront but helped create space for Messi through hold-up play.
• Daniel Pinter - 5/10: Minimal impact in the attacking third and largely out of the spotlight.

Substitutes & Manager

• David Ayala - 6/10: Came on early to stabilize midfield possession but lacked decisive passes.
• Riquelme Fillipi - 5/10: Subbed in late but failed to influence an increasingly chaotic game.
• Santiago Morales - 2/10: His brief appearance turned disastrous with two yellows and a red, leaving Miami vulnerable.
• Ezequiel Abadia-Reda - N/A: Too little time on the pitch for evaluation.
• Kily Gonzalez - 5/10: The coach’s strategy maintained possession but lacked threat; Morales’ sending off disrupted team shape and tactics.

The red card proved costly, undoing Miami’s efforts and handing Columbus all three points with a stoppage-time winner. Messi’s brilliance shone alone amid a night marked by defensive lapses and discipline issues.