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

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both found the net for Inter Miami, but defensive lapses cost them as they settled for a 2-2 tie against San Diego FC in Major League Soccer.

Messi extended his remarkable scoring run by delivering a signature free-kick equalizer after Anders Dreyer had given San Diego an early lead. Suarez seemed to have clinched victory with his goal in the 74th minute, only for Dreyer to score again late on and secure a share of the points for San Diego.

This result marked Inter Miami’s fourth straight draw in MLS. New coach Kily Gonzalez faced a frustrating debut, with his team stuck third in the Eastern Conference, trailing leaders Nashville by 11 points.

Gonzalez Criticizes Defensive Mistakes

Despite the attacking flair from Messi and Suarez, Gonzalez was visibly unhappy with his team’s defensive display. He expressed frustration after a costly error allowed Dreyer to break through with a ball over the top.

“We’ve been here four days and haven’t trained properly. Defensively, we need to be much stronger,” Gonzalez said, according to ESPN. “We can’t afford these defensive horrors; they come at a high cost. That last moment shouldn’t have happened. It’s strange to be so close to winning and nearly lose. We only avoided defeat because our goalkeeper saved us.”

Signs of Complacency?

Messi’s first-half free-kick was his 20th league goal this season and eighth since joining MLS in 2023. It also came shortly after he scored his 100th goal for the club during their Campeones Cup win against Cruz Azul. Gonzalez hinted that recent triumphs might have dulled the team's edge.

“I think the Campeones Cup may have had an unconscious effect, especially in the first half, causing some complacency,” the manager admitted. “At a club where winning every match is expected, we have to step up. We showed some good things, but I must improve the defense—that’s my biggest concern.”

Upcoming Matches

Inter Miami will look to end their streak of draws in a vital away game against Columbus Crew next Sunday. Meanwhile, San Diego FC travels to face Austin FC on Saturday.

• Major League Soccer: Austin FC (AUS) vs San Diego FC (SDI) - 27 Sept 2026, 03:30
• Major League Soccer: Columbus Crew (COL) vs Inter Miami CF (MIA) - 28 Sept 2026, 02:00