Categories: Colorado RapidsInter MiamiMLSProst International

Lionel to the rescue again for Inter Miami

Colorado Rapids host Inter Miami CF at Empower Field at Mile High on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Photo: LA Brothers / Prost International

Colorada Rapids 2 – 3 Inter Miami

DENVER, CO–After a turbulent week for Inter Miami, they were able to overcome Colorado with another piece of magic from Lionel Messi who scored the winner.

It has been a challenging time for the club after the shock exit by coach Javier Mascherano. But they started the game well under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, having moved from his role of sporting director to take charge of the first team.

They were working hard in the early stages and Yannick Bright won his side a penalty when Colorado couldn’t cope with Miami’s pressing and got caught in possession to the Miami midfielder, directly in front of the Colorado goal.

Messi made no mistake from the penalty spot as he waited for Zack Steffen to commit and casually rolled the ball down the middle to score.

At that point his side seemed to be right in their groove and comfort zone as they passed the ball around, but Colorado didn’t sit back.

They could have had an equaliser soon after when a quick counterattack saw Paxten Aaronson fire his shot just wide of the post to give Miami a reminder of how dangerous they could be.

Dayne St. Clare was certainly the busier of the two keepers as the home side tried to unlock the Miami defence. And he had to play ‘sweeper keeper’ at one point as Colorado played a long ball forward and the Miami keeper came way out of his area to clear with his head.

It was an entertaining game, and both sides seemed to be playing with an attacking intent to win the game rather than simply controlling the tempo and waiting for an opening.

And it was the away side that extended their lead on the stroke of half time when German Berterame rose highest to head home powerfully.

Mateo Silvetti raced down the right wing and crossed to the far post for the striker to head home and put his side two goals up and in control. After a frustrating start to life in Miami, Berterame now has two goals in two games, and no doubt he will want to extend that run.

While the first half went well for new coach Hoyos, the second half was quite different as we saw some of Miami’s defensive struggles return.

As the home side played out from the back, Rafael Navarro received the ball inside his own half and then was allowed to saunter forward. Amazingly he continued his run until he was in front of goal with St. Clare to beat and he fired it home. It was awful defending by Miami, but worse was to come.

Photo: LA Brothers

Having not heeded the warning they were again completely undone down the middle when a simple long ball from the back was allowed to get through, finding Darren Yapi in acres of space. With St. Clare left exposed the young striker finished well to level the game. After trailing by two goals, within minutes Colorado were level thanks to some terrible Miami blunders that almost gifted the home side a way back into the game.

Both sides continued to search for another goal, and you sensed that there was more to come, and of course it was Messi that provided it. After cutting from the right he unleashed that cultured left foot and curled the ball into the far corner beating the desperate dive of Steffen in the Colorado goal.

A late flurry of activity led to a red card for Bright, but it mattered little as Miami took the points and start life under their new coach with a win.

Photos by LA Brothers