In a night to remember, Inter Miami CF (20W-4L-8D) made history by securing their first-ever Supporters’ Shield with a gripping 3-2 victory against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. This victory marked a pivotal moment for the club, ensuring the top spot in the 2024 MLS regular season standings and granting them home-field advantage throughout the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The evening’s heroics came from familiar faces. Team captain and Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match, Lionel Messi, delivered a stellar performance with a brace, continuing to demonstrate why he’s one of the greatest players to ever grace the game. His contributions were complemented by veteran striker Luis Suárez, who netted a crucial goal, and goalkeeper Drake Callender, whose game-saving penalty stop in the closing minutes preserved the win.
Inter Miami’s tactical setup was a blend of attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Lining up with a five-man backline, featuring Jordi Alba and Marcelo Weigandt, the team looked to keep Columbus at bay while unleashing their star-studded attack. Messi, Suárez, and Diego Gómez led the offensive charge, with midfield support from Yannick Bright and Federico Redondo.
The first half seemed destined for a goalless stalemate until Messi’s brilliance in the dying moments broke the deadlock. Receiving a perfectly placed long ball from Alba, Messi controlled it beautifully before firing a left-footed shot past the Columbus goalkeeper in the 45th minute. Not content with one, Messi added another in added time with a stunning free kick that bent around the wall, leaving the keeper helpless.
Columbus responded swiftly at the start of the second half, with Diego Rossi scoring just a minute in to bring the score to 2-1. However, Suárez quickly restored Inter Miami’s two-goal cushion in the 48th minute, capitalizing on a loose ball in the box to head in his 18th goal of the season.
The Crew continued to fight back, and a penalty converted by Cucho Hernández in the 61st minute brought the game to a tense 3-2. But it was Inter Miami’s goalkeeper, Drake Callender, who stepped up as the unsung hero. In the 84th minute, Callender denied Hernández’s second penalty attempt, keeping the Miami lead intact and ensuring the team’s hard-fought victory.
Despite intense pressure from Columbus in the closing minutes, Callender’s heroics and a solid defensive effort saw Miami through, marking a historic moment for the club as they celebrated their first Supporters’ Shield title.
Head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino emphasized that while this achievement is monumental, the team remains focused on their ultimate goal.
“What we did today is no small feat, but we are focused on being able to reach December 7,” he said, referencing the date of the MLS Cup final.
The victory not only secures Inter Miami’s top seed but also sends a clear message to the rest of the league: this is a team built for championships.
With the Supporters’ Shield now in their possession, Inter Miami will head north to Canada for their next challenge. They face Toronto FC this Saturday, October 5, at BMO Field, looking to close out the regular season on a high before entering the playoffs with momentum and confidence.
With two matches left in the regular season, Inter Miami CF has firmly established themselves as the team to beat, making history in the process and laying the groundwork for what could be a championship run in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
