super save by Callender and bomb by Campana for the victory of Inter Miami

First there was the deluge, then a strange match, defined from goal to goal with suspense and agony. All this happened on the return of Lionel Messi to the MLS after missing the match against Orlando City. The archer Drake Callenderoften a villain, avoided the fall with a great save against the Colombian Christian Dájome and immediately the Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana, who had entered two minutes earlier, scored a great goal from the right (he is left-footed) for Gerardo Martino’s Inter Miami to make it 1-0. And to save the lead in the MLS Eastern Conference, which was slipping into the hands of Cincinnati.

After missing a game as a precaution, Messi returned to the field as a starter. After receiving a hard blow in the duel against CF Montreal, Tata Martino preferred to save Leo in the Florida classic to allow him to arrive in full shape for this match against DC United. The duel was scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in Argentina at Chase Stadium, but was delayed 35 minutes due to a strong storm warning in the Fort Lauderdale area. Everyone had to take shelter for half an hour.

In the first half Inter Miami dominated possession (67%), but failed to break the defensive structure of DC United, which stood in its own field with its lines together and opted for the counterattack. The rain, torrential for a good part of the first 45 minutes, was a condition for the game and goal situations were scarce.

The clearest one was Benjamin Cremaschi at 42 minutes, but the goalkeeper Alexander Bono his scream was drowned out. The American soccer player of Argentine descent was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a defensive failure by DC United, but he failed to break the deadlock: his shot hit the ‘1’s body.

And Messi? He had two free kicks on the edge of the area, one of those that he does not usually miss, but he was not good with his shots. He also started a spectacular pile-up from right to left in which he left rivals on the road until a defender’s foot got in the way and prevented what seemed destined for a great goal.

The second time? The rain had already passed through Fort Lauderdale. And also football. There was little that Messi and his teammates could generate to worry the dapper DC United, who did not shine in attack, but did show order and solidity in defense.

At the moment of the opening whistle, three of the four top scorers in MLS took to the Chase Stadium lawn: Luis Suárez, 11 goals, Christian Benteke (DC United), 11 goals, and Lionel Messi, 10 goals.

But the glory went to Campana, whom no one took into account and when the 0-0 seemed untouchable, after Callender’s reflex save. It made Messi and all of Inter Miami scream loudly. It was the only ball he touched all night.

With this victoryInter Miami has 31 points in 15 games, the result of nine wins, four draws and two losses. One more than Cincinnati, which has one less game and a balance of nine wins, three draws and two losses. The big difference, beyond that unity, is the goals scored: 36 against 19.

On the next day, Messi will return to Canada to play against Vancouver. It will be on Saturday, May 25 from 11:30 p.m. It will be one of the world champion captain’s last games before joining the National Team that will play in the Copa América.