Lionel Messi Hits Goal 101 but Inter Miami Struggles Continue After Draw with San Diego FC

Lionel Messi continued his remarkable form by scoring his 101st goal for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC. The Argentine star curled a signature free-kick to equalize after Anders Dreyer opened the scoring early on for San Diego.

Later, Luis Suarez seemed to have secured victory for Miami with a goal in the 74th minute. However, Dreyer struck again late in the game to ensure the points were shared in Florida, leaving Inter Miami with their fourth straight draw in Major League Soccer.

Manager Kily Gonzalez Frustrated by Defensive Mistakes

New coach Kily Gonzalez expressed clear frustration about his team’s defensive lapses, especially after the second goal which came from a ball played over the top of Miami’s backline. Gonzalez mentioned that the team had limited training time since his arrival and emphasized the need for defensive improvement.

"We've only been here four days and haven't been able to train properly. Defensively, we really need to be much stronger," Gonzalez told ESPN."We can't afford these defensive horrors; they come at a high cost. That last situation shouldn’t have happened. It feels unreal to be close to winning the match but almost lose it. We only avoided defeat because our goalkeeper made crucial saves."

Complacency May Be Affecting Team Focus

Messi’s goal was his 20th league strike this season and his eighth free-kick since joining MLS in 2023. This milestone came shortly after he hit 100 goals for Miami during their Campeones Cup triumph over Cruz Azul. Despite this success, Gonzalez believes the recent achievements might have caused some players to relax too much, especially in the first half.

"I think the Campeones Cup win may have had an unconscious effect, causing a bit of complacency in the first half," said Gonzalez."At a club where winning every match is expected, we need to step up. On the positive side, there were good moments, but I need to sharpen our defense as that is my biggest concern."

Upcoming Matches and Standings

Inter Miami currently sit third in the Eastern Conference, trailing leaders Nashville by 11 points. They face an important away game against the Columbus Crew next Sunday, hoping to break their streak of draws and reduce the gap at the top. Meanwhile, San Diego FC travel to play Austin FC this Saturday.

Major League Soccer Fixtures:

• Austin FC vs San Diego FC: 27 Sept 2026, 03:30
• Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami: 28 Sept 2026, 02:00