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    • Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami updates, highlights
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    Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami updates, highlights

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    Lionel Messi scored two goals in five minutes before halftime and Inter Miami took a 3-2 second-half lead over defending champion Columbus Crew in the biggest game of the Major League Soccer season Wednesday night.

    Messi scored his first goal in the 45e minute, and scored on a highlight-reel free kick about four minutes later. The match can be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and broadcast on FS1.

    Luis Suarez scored in the 48th minute, two minutes after Crew star Diego Rossi opened the second half with a goal. Cucho Hernandez scored for Columbus in the 61st minute in what has become a hectic second half.

    With a win, Messi and Inter Miami will have a chance to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield, which is awarded to the leader of the MLS regular season. It would be Inter Miami’s second title of the Messi era after winning the Leagues Cup in 2023. It would also be the 46th title of Messi’s storied career.

    But this match is far from over: the last time Columbus played Inter Miami, they responded from a 2-0 deficit with three second-half goals to steal a win at home in August.

    You can follow along here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.

    Crews defender Rudy Camacho was sent off in the 64th minute after receiving his second yellow card for a questionable tackle on Inter Miami’s Federico Redondo. The Crew will play the rest of this match with 10 players instead of 11.

    Cucho Hernandez scored for the Crew in the 61st minute on a penalty kick, following an Inter Miami handball.

    That’s already three second-half goals from both teams, and we’re back to a one-goal lead for Inter Miami.

    Luis Suarez has scored for Inter Miami, scoring a goal after Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte collided with a teammate. It created a loose ball chance and a 3-1 lead for Inter Miami.

    Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy could only put his hand on his head in disbelief.

    Crew star Diego Rossi took advantage of an Inter Miami defensive breakdown to score a goal in the 46th minute as the second half got underway.

    Messi once again showed why he is the best in the world by scoring a free kick in extra time (45+4′) before half-time, giving Inter Miami a 2-0 lead against Columbus Crew.

    Lionel Messi scored in the 45e minute in which Inter Miami takes a 1-0 lead over Columbus Crew.

    Just before half-time, Messi was able to tap the goal with his left shoe past Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

    Christian Ramirez, one of the Crew’s star players, put in a right shot that went just outside the right side of the net in the 34th minute.

    Messi waved his finger in the air disapprovingly. Inter Miami coach Tata Martino had his hands in the air in disbelief. An Inter Miami goal was disallowed due to a player’s offside. It would have been an own goal by Columbus.

    Columbus forward Mo Farsi is now being cared for by trainers after colliding with Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets in the 26th minute.

    Columbus almost took a 1-0 lead, but Cucho Hernandez was only a step or two ahead of Inter Miami’s back line. He was ruled offside after finding the back of the net in the 8e minute.

    Both teams have traded possession throughout the opening five minutes, with Messi already securing at least one clearance for Inter Miami. These clubs are ball dominant, so it will be interesting to see which one in this club pushes the boundaries to control the ball.

    Inter Miami’s match against Columbus Crew will be broadcast by FS1 in the United States.

    The match will also be available to stream via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

    The match starts at 7:45 PM ET (8:45 PM Argentina time)

    Yes, Lionel Messi is expected to start and play for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew tonight.

    Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy pregame interview

    The message from Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy: “We deserve to be here. The most important thing for me is a good performance,” he said in a pregame interview.

    Inter Miami coach Tata Martino pregame interview

    Inter Miami’s Tata Martino’s key to the match: “We have to be consistent for 90 minutes,” he said through an interpreter before the match.

    It will be Messi’s first match against the Crew, although both teams have already played against each other twice this season. And it will be Messi’s fifth match since returning from his right ankle injury in the Copa America.

    “My players, yes, they know Miami is coming with Messi, and we know this is a good match for both teams,” Crew coach Wilfred Nancy told reporters on Tuesday. “This is of course good for the competition. This is good for everyone.”

    Messi has scored three goals in four games, but Inter Miami have drawn three in a row in that period as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner improves his fitness. Some media wondered whether Inter Miami played better without Messi as they won nine of 10 matches before his return.

    “I’m happy to have the best player in the world with us. And well, adapting to that won’t be a problem,” Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales said.

    Messi will indeed start for Inter Miami. Here are the starting lineups of both clubs:

    Inter Miami 4, Columbus Crew 3: Messi may have heard that Inter Miami is playing better without him before his injury return, making a statement to earn the club the MLS Supporters’ Shield title. Messi will score two goals with an assist from Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas will score for Miami against the Crew. Columbus may have tired legs in its seventh game in 24 days, while Miami will play its fifth game in the same period. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter for USA TODAY.

    Inter Miami won 2-1 at home in June when Messi was away during the Copa America, and the Crew won 3-2 in August when Messi was injured en route to winning the 2024 Leagues Cup.

    The way Columbus won was emphatic: Christian Ramirez scored in the 67e minute, while Diego Rossi scored a brace in the 69e and 80e minutes to steal the win.

    Inter Miami sits atop the MLS regular season standings with 65 points and three games remaining. A win tonight would give Inter Miami 68 points, and no other club could achieve that goal and earn them the Supporters’ Shield. If Inter Miami wins, it would set a new MLS record with 74 points. A loss to Columbus would force Inter Miami to win their final two games to win the Shield.

    Columbus Crew is third with 57 points, but still has four games to go. A loss to Inter Miami would take the Crew to 66 points if they win their last three games. However, a victory over Inter Miami opens the way to a maximum of 69 points.

    LA Galaxy are second with 58 points with three games to go. Three more wins would give the Galaxy 67 points.

    ➤ Inter Miami CF conquers Supporters’ Shield with:

    ➤ Charlotte FC clinch play-off berth with:

    • Win
    • Draw, and Toronto FC lose or draw, and DC United lose or draw, and New England Revolution lose or draw, and Atlanta United lose or draw
    • Toronto FC lose or draw, and New England Revolution lose or draw, and Atlanta United lose or draw, and DC United draw

    ➤ Los Angeles FC takes home advantage in round 1 with:

    • Win, and Real Salt Lake lose, and Houston Dynamo FC lose or draw, and Colorado Rapids lose or draw, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC draw

    ➤ Minnesota United FC clinch play-off berth with:

    • Win
    • FC Dallas loss or draw

    ➤ Portland Timbers clinch playoff berth with:

    • Win
    • Draw, and FC Dallas loses or draws

    MORE: MLS scores and fixtures

    Heading into MLS Matchday 36, these would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round…

    EASTERN CONFERENCE

    ➤ Achieved play-off spot: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC

    Wildcard Match:

    • Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Philadelphia Union (9)

    Round 1 (best-of-three series):

    • Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-Philadelphia Union winner
    • Columbus Crew (2) vs. Charlotte FC (7)
    • FC Cincinnati (3) vs. New York Red Bulls (6)
    • Orlando City SC (4) vs. New York City FC (5)

    WESTERN CONFERENCE

    ➤ Achieved play-off spot: Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo FC, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

    Wildcard Match:

    • Minnesota United FC (No. 8 seed) vs. Portland Timbers (9)

    Round 1 (best-of-three series):

    • LA Galaxy (1) vs. Winner Minnesota United FC-Portland Timbers
    • Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7)
    • Real Salt Lake (3) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (6)
    • Colorado Rapids (4) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5)

    MORE: 2024 MLS Rankings

    A total of 18 teams will qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs – the top nine finishers from each conference. The eighth and ninth seeds in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds will qualify for the best-of-three series of Round 1. Here is the playoff schedule:

    • October 3: Wildcard matches (single elimination matches)
    • Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
    • November 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
    • November 30 – December 1: Conference Finals (Single Elimination Matches)
    • December 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

    Every now and then we recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate commission. USA TODAY operates independently and this does not impact our coverage.

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