Inter Miami Stumble as Messi Strikes the Woodwork Twice in Dramatic Chicago Fire Stalemate
In a night charged with anticipation at Soldier Field, Inter Miami’s bid to stay atop Major League Soccer took an unexpected twist as Lionel Messi and his teammates were held to a pulsating 0-0 draw against Gregg Berhalter’s resurgent Chicago Fire. The Herons, previously unbeaten and leading the Eastern Conference, were left ruing missed opportunities and extraordinary defending, as their early-season dominance was finally checked.
This result is significant for both its immediate implications on the league standings and its demonstration of how even the star-studded Inter Miami can be frustrated. The draw – their second in as many weekends – saw Miami cede the Eastern Conference lead to the Vancouver Whitecaps, as Vancouver moved four points clear at the summit. For Chicago, meanwhile, it marked a hard-earned first clean sheet of the season and a valuable point against MLS’s most glamorous side.
The match itself provided an absorbing narrative. Lionel Messi, once again the centre of attention, delivered two moments of trademark magic only for the woodwork to intervene. In the 64th minute, the Argentine maestro unleashed a curling free-kick that brushed the fingertips of Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady before cannoning off the crossbar. The Soldier Field crowd barely had time to regain their composure before Messi repeated the feat with another set-piece effort in the 85th minute, rattling the bar and sending gasps across the stadium.
Inter Miami’s attacking frustrations were emblematic of the evening. Despite a line-up featuring regular starters, including Messi and Luis Suarez, Miami found little joy from open play. Suarez briefly caused celebrations with a tidy finish in the closing stages, but the linesman’s flag halted the jubilation – the Uruguayan was well offside.
Chicago, on their part, had moments to snatch all three points. The dynamic front three of Hugo Cuypers, Jonathan Bamba, and Philip Zinckernagel stretched Miami’s defences at various points, only to be repelled by the brilliance of Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Ustari finished with a remarkable seven saves, his most telling contribution coming late on: Bamba’s close-range effort and Maren Haile-Selassie’s near-miss both underscored Chicago’s threat on the counterattack.
The tactical battle between the two coaches provided intrigue. Miami’s composure and big-match mentality kept them unbeaten, yet consecutive draws after their CONCACAF Champions Cup exertions hint at fatigue or a potential lack of cutting edge in the final third. For Chicago, this shutout and performance against elite opposition might serve as a springboard to stabilise their season after an inconsistent stretch.
Pre-match predictions had tipped Miami to edge proceedings, citing their knack for late drama and offensive firepower. Yet as the final whistle blew, it was clear that the MLS script remains beautifully unpredictable – even the magic of Messi cannot guarantee goals every weekend.
This scoreless draw raises pressing questions: Can Inter Miami rediscover their ruthless form to reclaim top spot? Will Chicago transform this defensive solidity into a consistent run? Football, as Sunday night in Chicago showed, constantly defies expectation.
What did you make of Messi’s near-misses and Inter Miami’s recent run? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the debate on MLS’s most compelling title race in years.
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