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Inter Miami Player Ratings: Messi's Brilliance Overshadowed by Morales' Red Card in Loss to Columbus Crew
Amir Azimi
Daily News

Inter Miami Player Ratings: Messi's Brilliance Overshadowed by Morales' Red Card in Loss to Columbus Crew

Inter Miami Player Ratings Against Columbus Crew

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant free-kick for Inter Miami, but a late goal from Jamal Thiare in the 98th minute handed Columbus Crew a 2-1 victory at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

The match was intense and physical, with Miami’s defensive setup tested heavily. They lined up in a 3-4-3 formation designed to give Messi freedom to create, yet struggled to keep pace with Columbus’ relentless pressure. Despite holding 56% possession, Miami managed only three shots on target.

The turning point came with disciplinary issues. Messi equalized in the 33rd minute following an early penalty goal from Josef Martinez, but Miami couldn’t hold on. Santiago Morales’ brief appearance turned disastrous when he received two quick yellow cards, leading to a red in the 96th minute. This left Miami down to ten men, and Thiare took advantage in stoppage time to seal the win for Columbus.

Goalkeeper & Defense

  • Rocco Rios Novo - 6/10: Made four key saves and showed sharp reflexes against six shots on target from Columbus. Unable to stop the penalty or the late close-range finish.
  • Gonzalo Lujan - 5/10: Struggled with Columbus attackers, earned a yellow card in the 92nd minute, and was part of a backline that collapsed in stoppage time.
  • Casemiro - 4/10: Out of position and lacking mobility, he had a tough night being targeted frequently by the opposition.
  • Micael - 6/10: The calmest defender, making several crucial clearances.

Midfield

  • Facundo Mura - 6/10: Provided width and defended well until his substitution in the 71st minute; picked up a yellow card for tactical fouling.
  • Yannick Bright - 5/10: Found it hard to influence play, booked in the 40th minute, and conceded a foul in the box that led to a penalty.
  • Rodrigo De Paul - 6/10: Worked hard linking defense and attack but lacked his usual creativity.
  • Sergio Reguilon - 5/10: Offered some attacking options on the left but was inconsistent and replaced in the 86th minute.

Attack

  • Lionel Messi - 7/10: The standout player who clinically scored the equalizer. His quality shone despite Miami’s lackluster offense.
  • Luis Suarez - 6/10: Had a quiet night, often isolated, no shots on target but helped create space for Messi.
  • Daniel Pinter - 5/10: Barely involved in the attack, mostly peripheral.

Substitutes & Manager

  • David Ayala - 6/10: Came on in the 40th minute to stabilize midfield and help maintain possession but lacked decisive final passes.
  • Riquelme Fillipi - 5/10: Entered at 71 minutes but failed to make a significant impact.
  • Santiago Morales - 2/10: A disastrous brief appearance after coming on in the 86th minute. Booked twice within minutes, earning a red card that left Miami short-handed.
  • Ezequiel Abadia-Reda - N/A: Too little time to rate after entering in the 86th minute.
  • Kily Gonzalez - 5/10: The manager’s 3-4-3 formation held possession but lacked penetration. Morales’ red card caused tactical disarray and contributed to the defeat.

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