Inter Miami Faces San Diego
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami Host Expansion Side San Diego FC in First Meeting
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Key Points
1
Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami in the 2-0 Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul. He leads both Miami and MLS in 2026 with 19 goals and 13 assists.
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San Diego FC are in their second MLS season after entering the league in 2025 as its 30th expansion team.
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Inter Miami’s attacking options extend beyond Messi: Luis Suárez has recorded 12 goals and three assists, Germán Berterame has seven goals and four assists, and Telasco Segovia has contributed eight assists and three goals.
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Rosendo Mendoza is listed as the referee for the match, according to the live-match listing.
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San Diego FC are coached by Mikey Varas, while Inter Miami’s recent cup triumph came under new head coach Angel Guillermo Hoyos.
Inter Miami and San Diego FC played to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Nu Stadium in their first-ever competitive meeting. Lionel Messi scored his 101st goal for Inter Miami with a free-kick equalizer, but San Diego's Anders Dreyer struck twice to snatch a late point. The result marked Miami's fourth consecutive MLS draw, frustrating the title contenders despite dominating stretches of play.
Inter Miami entered the match in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points, while San Diego sat 10th in the Western Conference with 30 points. The draw leaves Miami at 46 points with a 12-4-10 record, missing a chance to build on their recent Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul. San Diego improves to 31 points and snaps a three-game losing streak on the road.
Messi Levels but Miami Cannot Hold Lead
Anders Dreyer put San Diego ahead in the 12th minute with an assist from Jeppe Tverskov. Messi answered just 12 minutes later with a perfectly struck free kick in the 24th minute to equalize. In the second half, Luis Suárez gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 74th minute off a Rodrigo De Paul pass. But Dreyer struck again in the 82nd minute to secure the draw, his second goal of the night.
Messi now has 20 MLS goals in 2026, leading the league in the Golden Boot race. Suárez added his 13th regular-season goal. CJ dos Santos in goal for San Diego made crucial saves to keep the Herons from running away with the match in the final stretch.
San Diego Snaps Losing Streak With Road Point
San Diego entered Sunday's match reeling from three straight defeats, including a 5-0 drubbing by Philadelphia Union. Anders Dreyer, last season's MLS MVP runner-up, scored both San Diego goals to earn a valuable point on the road against a playoff favorite. The result keeps San Diego's Western Conference playoff hopes alive at 31 points.
San Diego entered MLS in 2025 as the league's 30th expansion team. In their second season, they remain in the hunt despite inconsistent results. Midfielder Jeppe Tverskov provided the assist on Dreyer's opening goal, showcasing the club's attacking depth heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Miami's Defense Struggles in Consecutive Draws
The 2-2 result marks Inter Miami's fourth straight MLS draw, a frustrating stretch for a team chasing the Eastern Conference title. WPLG Local 10 News labeled the late equalizer another "late-game collapse" for Miami, pointing to defensive lapses in the final minutes. Despite strong attacking play and a 2-1 advantage, Miami could not close out the match against a determined San Diego side.
Inter Miami's attacking lineup remains loaded beyond Messi. Luis Suárez has 13 MLS goals, while Germán Berterame and Telasco Segovia provide depth with seven and three goals respectively. The club will look to turn draws into wins as the season enters its final stretch under head coach Angel Guillermo Hoyos.
International Spotlight on Nu Stadium
During halftime, FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis announced that the final phase of the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup will be held at Nu Stadium in January. The announcement cements the venue as a major international soccer hub. The stadium now hosts both top MLS talent and world-class women's soccer events.
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