Inter Miami left Frustrated by a Hard-Working Charlotte Side

It was a third draw in a row for an Inter Miami side that met a resilient and disciplined team in Charlotte FC. The away side never stopped working and constantly kept up the pace, keeping Miami talisman Lionel Messi quiet for much of the game.

Not that the Inter captain didn’t get his chances. As early as the eighth minute, Diego Gomez put him through with a great pass that opened up the Charlotte defense.

From the edge of the penalty area on his favored left foot, you would be excused for expecting a goal. But his tame effort was comfortably saved by Kristijan Kahlina in the Charlotte goal.

It was an impressive performance from a Charlotte side that defied their mid-table position with an impressive display. They consistently kept Miami on the back foot in the first half, and the home side was often found chasing the game or scrambling at the back.

Miami had the returning Sergio Busquets to steady the ship, and his composure was needed as the away side showed that they weren’t afraid to attack and ask questions of the home side.

It was a first half littered with half-chances for both sides without really testing Drake Callender or Kahlina. Luis Suarez teased us with a jinking run at goal before shooting wide of the far post, and Jordi Alba had the freedom of the left wing at times, but neither side had the penetration needed to open the scoring.

Liel Abada and Pep Biel were both a threat down the flanks and proved to be regular outlets for a Charlotte side that clearly hadn’t come to Chase Stadium just to make up the numbers.

They gave Miami no time on the ball and defended strongly against arguably one of the best players of all time in Messi, not to mention Suarez, who only needs half a chance. But they kept chances to a minimum and kept a full-strength Miami side at bay before they opened the scoring to take a well-earned lead.

It was a strong run by the impressive Nathan Byrne, who simply moved into the open space before finding Brandt Bronico. The midfielder hit a long-range effort that struck teammate Karol Swiderski, completely wrong-footing Callender.

It’s hard to say whether it was intentional or simply hit the striker, but the goal seemed to fire up an Inter side and light the touch paper. The jolt of going behind sharpened the Miami attack, and they peppered the Charlotte goal with a number of chances.

Messi was the biggest threat and Kahlina had to be at his best to keep the Argentine out, but he couldn’t stop the goal. Messi got the ball on the edge of the area and made himself a yard of space before unleashing a long range shot into the net and finally breaking the Charlotte resolve.

They thought they had the ascendancy when the referee awarded a penalty after Adilson Malinda was adjudged to have fouled Diego Gomez in the penalty area. The referee gave a penalty and issued a second yellow card and subsequent red, only for VAR to reverse the decision minutes later.

It was an entertaining game. Charlotte thought they’d regained the lead when Kerwin Vargas hit the net, but he was adjudged offside.

Both sides huffed and puffed as the clock ticked down and continued to create chances. A number of substitutes changed the shape of the game, but it didn’t stop both teams attacking intent.

A late Messi penalty claim was dismissed by the referee, and a close chance for Suarez in the dying seconds that looked like a certain goal but somehow went over the crossbar.

A draw was a fair result, but Miami will want to end their winless run on Wednesday when they play the Columbus Crew.