Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami: Thiaré wins it late
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28 Sept 2026Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami: Thiaré wins it late
Columbus Crew beat Inter Miami CF 2-1 at Lower.com Field in an MLS matchup defined by set pieces, stoppage-time drama and a heavy stat tilt toward the hosts. Josef Martínez converted a first-half penalty, Lionel Messi answered with a trademark free-kick, and substitute Jamal Thiaré decided it at the death.
Inter Miami finished with 10 men after Santiago Morales received two late yellow cards in added time. For full data, visuals and the complete event log, check the match page on Sofascore. You can also follow season-wide trends on the MLS page.
Key moments and turning points
The first big decision arrived in the 24th minute when a possible penalty for Columbus was checked and not awarded. Four minutes later, it did not matter: Josef Martínez won a spot-kick and buried it low to the left for 1-0, a high-probability strike backed by the numbers. Inter Miami responded quickly on 33 minutes when Lionel Messi bent a left-foot free-kick high into the net to level the match 1-1.
The second half simmered, then boiled late. With nine minutes added, Inter’s Santiago Morales picked up a yellow at 90+3 and a second at 90+6 for time wasting, reducing the visitors to 10. Columbus pushed, and in the 90th minute plus eight, Jamal Thiaré, introduced on 83, was in the right place to finish from close range. The Senegalese forward then saw yellow at 90+9 in a frantic finish, but his goal stood as the decisive touch. A busy whistle from referee Victor Rivas capped a night where control was hard to keep, and momentum even harder.
What the numbers say
Scoreline aside, the underlying data sided with Columbus from start to stop. The Crew led shots 14-5 and shots on target 6-3, while producing 1.87 expected goals to Miami’s 0.27. Expected goals on target read 1.01 to 0.69, reflecting that the better chances, and the better strikes, leaned yellow and black. Columbus created three big chances to none and rattled the woodwork three times, evidence of consistent pressure.
Set-piece and territorial data told a similar story: Columbus had a 9-1 corner edge and posted 60 final-third entries to Inter’s 37. Touches in the opposition box were 19-12 in favor of the hosts. Miami did complete more passes (524-390) and owned more of the ball at 56 percent, but that possession rarely translated into danger. Average team Sofascore Rating also tilted Columbus 6.83 to 6.50, mirroring the chance quality gap. When the margins got fine late, the side making more of the right entries found the winner.
Shapes and styles
Both teams lined up in a 3-4-3, yet used the shape differently. Columbus pushed width through Mohamed Farsi and Malte Amundsen, then funneled service through Brais Méndez, who attempted 10 crosses. Cross accuracy was only 13 percent for the Crew (3 of 24), but volume kept Miami pinned and second balls alive. Long balls were also a lever, with Columbus completing 23 of 41 (56 percent), a solid clip that stretched Miami out of its comfort zones.
Miami preferred carrying through the middle. The Herons won 55 percent of all duels and completed 71 percent of their dribbles, with Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro connecting defense to attack. Aerials went 64 percent Miami’s way, but Columbus countered with better final-third execution and more shots from distance. Both teams were tidy in the high phase, each completing 80 percent of passes in the final third, yet the Crew found more shooting windows. For fans tracking stars around the globe as well as MLS, you can also follow players like Lionel Messi on Sofascore.
Discipline and game management
This was a physical contest: 35 fouls, 12 yellows and one red. Early cautions for Casemiro (27′) and Dylan Chambost (38′) set a tone of persistent contact. Miami’s Yannick Bright conceded the penalty that put Columbus ahead, and the visitors were flagged offside four times while Columbus finished with one, framing a more direct Miami front line against a well-timed Crew back line. Inter also needed more clearances, 24 to 17, a sign they spent longer under pressure.
In goal, Patrick Schulte made two saves for Columbus, while Rocco Ríos Novo stopped four for Miami. The goalkeeping ledger showed a costly difference, though: Miami’s keeper was tagged with an error leading to a goal and a goals prevented figure of -0.99. Schulte’s goals prevented read -0.31, not pristine but good enough on a night when his defense limited shot quality. With free kicks at 18-16 to Miami and nine corners conceded, Columbus still managed the big defensive moments better, especially after Inter went down to 10.
MVP: Lionel Messi’s influence
By Sofascore Rating, the standout on the pitch was Lionel Messi at 7.8 on a 1 to 10 scale. He scored with a sublime free-kick, finished with three shots and two on target, and connected 27 of 29 passes, including two key passes. His expected goals sat at 0.17, but the expected goals on target for his strikes climbed to 0.68, underscoring the precision once the ball left his boot. Even in a losing effort, the captain’s efficiency with limited touches kept Inter Miami in the game deep into stoppage time.
A few others pushed the top bracket. For Columbus, Sean Zawadzki posted a 7.4 as the defensive anchor, and Josef Martínez hit 7.3 after winning and scoring the penalty. Miami’s midfield duo of Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro each landed at 7.3, offering control and range. On a night the Crew owned territory and chance volume, Messi’s contributions still topped the ratings board.
Player of the Match
By Sofascore Rating, Lionel Messi led this match with a 7.8. Fans also chose Messi, giving him 4393 of 4655 total votes. Both the rating and the crowd favored the same player.
MLS
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Columbus Crew beat Inter Miami CF 2-1 at Lower.com Field in an MLS matchup defined by set pieces, stoppage-time drama and a heavy stat tilt toward the hosts. Josef Martínez converted a first-half penalty, Lionel Messi answered with a trademark free-kick, and substitute Jamal Thiaré decided it at the death.
Inter Miami finished with 10 men after Santiago Morales received two late yellow cards in added time. For full data, visuals and the complete event log, check the match page on Sofascore. You can also follow season-wide trends on the MLS page.
Key moments and turning points
The first big decision arrived in the 24th minute when a possible penalty for Columbus was checked and not awarded. Four minutes later, it did not matter: Josef Martínez won a spot-kick and buried it low to the left for 1-0, a high-probability strike backed by the numbers. Inter Miami responded quickly on 33 minutes when Lionel Messi bent a left-foot free-kick high into the net to level the match 1-1.
The second half simmered, then boiled late. With nine minutes added, Inter’s Santiago Morales picked up a yellow at 90+3 and a second at 90+6 for time wasting, reducing the visitors to 10. Columbus pushed, and in the 90th minute plus eight, Jamal Thiaré, introduced on 83, was in the right place to finish from close range. The Senegalese forward then saw yellow at 90+9 in a frantic finish, but his goal stood as the decisive touch. A busy whistle from referee Victor Rivas capped a night where control was hard to keep, and momentum even harder.
What the numbers say
Scoreline aside, the underlying data sided with Columbus from start to stop. The Crew led shots 14-5 and shots on target 6-3, while producing 1.87 expected goals to Miami’s 0.27. Expected goals on target read 1.01 to 0.69, reflecting that the better chances, and the better strikes, leaned yellow and black. Columbus created three big chances to none and rattled the woodwork three times, evidence of consistent pressure.
Set-piece and territorial data told a similar story: Columbus had a 9-1 corner edge and posted 60 final-third entries to Inter’s 37. Touches in the opposition box were 19-12 in favor of the hosts. Miami did complete more passes (524-390) and owned more of the ball at 56 percent, but that possession rarely translated into danger. Average team Sofascore Rating also tilted Columbus 6.83 to 6.50, mirroring the chance quality gap. When the margins got fine late, the side making more of the right entries found the winner.
Shapes and styles
Both teams lined up in a 3-4-3, yet used the shape differently. Columbus pushed width through Mohamed Farsi and Malte Amundsen, then funneled service through Brais Méndez, who attempted 10 crosses. Cross accuracy was only 13 percent for the Crew (3 of 24), but volume kept Miami pinned and second balls alive. Long balls were also a lever, with Columbus completing 23 of 41 (56 percent), a solid clip that stretched Miami out of its comfort zones.
Miami preferred carrying through the middle. The Herons won 55 percent of all duels and completed 71 percent of their dribbles, with Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro connecting defense to attack. Aerials went 64 percent Miami’s way, but Columbus countered with better final-third execution and more shots from distance. Both teams were tidy in the high phase, each completing 80 percent of passes in the final third, yet the Crew found more shooting windows. For fans tracking stars around the globe as well as MLS, you can also follow players like Lionel Messi on Sofascore.
Discipline and game management
This was a physical contest: 35 fouls, 12 yellows and one red. Early cautions for Casemiro (27′) and Dylan Chambost (38′) set a tone of persistent contact. Miami’s Yannick Bright conceded the penalty that put Columbus ahead, and the visitors were flagged offside four times while Columbus finished with one, framing a more direct Miami front line against a well-timed Crew back line. Inter also needed more clearances, 24 to 17, a sign they spent longer under pressure.
In goal, Patrick Schulte made two saves for Columbus, while Rocco Ríos Novo stopped four for Miami. The goalkeeping ledger showed a costly difference, though: Miami’s keeper was tagged with an error leading to a goal and a goals prevented figure of -0.99. Schulte’s goals prevented read -0.31, not pristine but good enough on a night when his defense limited shot quality. With free kicks at 18-16 to Miami and nine corners conceded, Columbus still managed the big defensive moments better, especially after Inter went down to 10.
MVP: Lionel Messi’s influence
By Sofascore Rating, the standout on the pitch was Lionel Messi at 7.8 on a 1 to 10 scale. He scored with a sublime free-kick, finished with three shots and two on target, and connected 27 of 29 passes, including two key passes. His expected goals sat at 0.17, but the expected goals on target for his strikes climbed to 0.68, underscoring the precision once the ball left his boot. Even in a losing effort, the captain’s efficiency with limited touches kept Inter Miami in the game deep into stoppage time.
A few others pushed the top bracket. For Columbus, Sean Zawadzki posted a 7.4 as the defensive anchor, and Josef Martínez hit 7.3 after winning and scoring the penalty. Miami’s midfield duo of Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro each landed at 7.3, offering control and range. On a night the Crew owned territory and chance volume, Messi’s contributions still topped the ratings board.
Player of the Match
By Sofascore Rating, Lionel Messi led this match with a 7.8. Fans also chose Messi, giving him 4393 of 4655 total votes. Both the rating and the crowd favored the same player.