Messi’s Miami survive defensive horror show to clinch playoff advantage

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami secured the final playoff advantage with a 3-3 draw against Charlotte in the Eastern Conference on the MLS regular season finale on Saturday. Messi set up the first two goals of the match, both from corners, to ensure home-field advantage for Inter Miami in the playoffs. Ian Fray, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul scored three first-half goals for Inter Miami, before Liel Abada's brace in the second half gave Charlotte a comeback.

The game was marked by poor defending from both teams, and a single point proved sufficient for Inter Miami's second-place finish with 60 points. New England Revolution finished third, failing to capitalize on a 1-0 loss against Orlando, ending the regular season with 58 points. Inter Miami will face Columbus Crew in the first round of the playoffs.

Currently leading the league with 77 points, Nashville broke the all-time MLS points record after defeating Cincinnati 2-0. Messi's impressive 26 goals this season are almost certainly to secure his second consecutive golden boot award. Charlotte's early goal was ruled out due to a handball involving Idan Toklomati, who set up Abada after intercepting Casemiro's weak header back to the goalkeeper.