Inter Miami 3-3 Charlotte: Messi’s side let three-goal lead slip away

Inter Miami CF threw away a three-goal half-time lead as Charlotte FC staged a remarkable second-half comeback to earn a 3-3 draw in their MLS regular-season finale at Nu Stadium.

Lionel Messi, who finished the campaign with 26 goals and is set to become the first player to win consecutive Golden Boots in MLS history, was held scoreless but provided two assists as Miami raced into a commanding lead.

Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Messi’s corner caused chaos in the Charlotte defence. Luis Suárez then tapped in from close range in the 33rd minute following a Germán Berterame header from another Messi corner. Rodrigo De Paul made it 3-0 just before the break with a crisp strike from outside the box.

Charlotte, however, refused to lie down. Liel Abada pulled one back in the 50th minute and completed a quickfire brace five minutes later with a first-time finish after a neat exchange with Pep Biel. The visitors completed the turnaround in the 90th minute when Rodolfo Aloko reacted quickest to convert the rebound after Tyger Smalls struck the post.

Messi hit the post in stoppage time as Miami pushed for a winner, but Charlotte held on for a share of the points. Miami still secured second place in the Eastern Conference with 60 points after New England lost elsewhere, while Charlotte finished as the fifth seed.

The result means Inter Miami will host Columbus in their best-of-three first-round play-off series with home-field advantage through the conference final. For Charlotte, the dramatic fightback offers encouragement ahead of their post-season opener.