This Beautiful Goal Is Lionel Messi's 15th Goal In 16 League Games -

Lionel Messi moved Inter Miami one step closer to the No. MLS Cup playoffs when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlotte FC.

With the draw against Charlotte FC on September 28, Inter Miami extended its Major League Soccer winning chance to eight games. Messi scored in the 67th minute.

With this, Messi has now scored 15 goals this season in 16 league games.

Inter Miami was eight points ahead of the Crew for the No. 1 spot after the tie, Columbus’ 2-2 draw with DC United, and the tie. Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Additionally, Inter Miami is seven points ahead of LA Galaxy for the No. 1st-place finisher in the MLS postseason.

A victory for Inter Miami on Wednesday against Columbus would secure the No. 1 seed in the East. With three games remaining, Inter Miami (19-4-8) has 65 points; With four games remaining, Columbus (16-5-9) has 57 points.

Inter Miami will finish with 74 points if it wins this match, one more than New England’s MLS record of 73 set in 2021.

Interestingly, Columbus gave up the tying goal in the 81st minute despite leading 2-1 late in the second half; Otherwise, the Crew might have been two points behind Inter Miami in the standings, which would have made the match on Wednesday much more interesting.

Messi’s goal was just a brilliant one. He received a pass near the top of the penalty box, dribbled once, and his left-footed natural shot passed four defenders and into the net to tie the game.

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Karol Swiderski’s deflected shot into the net made it 10 minutes after Charlotte (11-11-9, 42 points, seventh in the East) scored first.

However, Messi responded, and Inter Miami was forced to settle for a draw, its third in a row. Since June 1, the team has been 9-1-3 in MLS play and 5-0-3 in its last eight league games.

After being knocked down near the top of the penalty area, Messi lobbied for a shot at the game-winning goal in the 10th minute of extra time.

On the final play of the game, Luis Suarez somehow missed from point-blank range after there was no foul called.

The team plays Toronto on October 5 after their game with Columbus on Wednesday, and then will play New England at home on October 19 to conclude its 34-game schedule.