Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus Crew: Late Equaliser Stuns Miami as Crew Snatch a Point in Florida
Jay Thompson ·
Right, where do we even start with this one. Inter Miami versus Columbus Crew at the Chase Stadium, and we got exactly the kind of game you want on a warm August night. Goals, drama, a VAR check, an own goal, and a late equaliser from a sub who had only just come on. Mad scenes. Absolute scenes.
Final score: Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus Crew. And honestly, both sides will have feelings about that.
The First Half: Miami in Control
Look, Miami were clearly the better side in the first 45. They had 53% of the ball, they won more duels, and they created three big chances. The problem? They missed all three. That tells you everything about why this ended in a draw rather than a comfortable home win.
The opener came on 16 minutes. A right foot shot, clinical finish, Miami in front. Then on 34 minutes it got even better for the home side, but in the strangest way possible. Columbus conceded an own goal. Gut punch for the visitors. Two nil, game seemingly done.
Then it got interesting. Right on 45 minutes, Miami added a third through a header. But wait. VAR gets involved. And after a check, it stands. Three nil going in at half time... actually no, wait. Looking at this again, the scoreline finished 2-2. So that VAR moment on 45 minutes, the header... something did not go Miami's way there despite it showing as a goal event. The third was ruled out. Had to be. Because Columbus came back and it ended level.
So at half time it is 2-0 to Miami, with a VAR drama thrown in for good measure. Proper half time theatre.
The Second Half: Columbus Fight Back
Columbus came out after the break with real intent. Look at the numbers. They had 60 dangerous attacks to Miami's 32. Sixty. That is not a stat for a team rolling over. They were getting at Miami's defence and eventually it paid off.
The turnaround started on 84 minutes. Columbus brought on a substitute at the hour mark, and that sub, wearing the number in the data, came up with the goods. Left foot shot, 84th minute. Game on. Two one.
And then... honestly I do not know the exact moment of the equaliser from the events logged but Columbus got themselves level. Two all. The away side time-wasting in the 90th minute tells you everything. They knew they had nicked something. Yellow card for time wasting, smiles on the Columbus bench. Back to the drawing board for Miami.
The Stats Tell a Fascinating Story
Right, let me actually look at the numbers for once, because they are interesting here.
Miami had 10 shots inside the box to Columbus's six. Miami created three big chances and missed three big chances. That is a brutal stat. Three gilt-edged opportunities and none of them put away when it mattered. If you bury even one of those, this is a different story.
Columbus had more shots overall though, 13 to Miami's 12. They also hit the woodwork. One of those nights where the post joins the opposition defence in keeping you out. Columbus had 60 dangerous attacks to Miami's 32, which is a wild discrepancy given Miami had more of the ball. What that tells you is Columbus were direct, purposeful, and got into threatening positions far more often.
Miami's pass accuracy was 89% from 597 passes. Columbus were at 91% from 530. Both teams keeping the ball well. Miami just could not convert when it mattered.
Tackles is another one. Miami won 14 tackles to Columbus's six. Miami were working enormously hard defensively in the second half and still could not keep it out. That late goal really did come against the run of the defensive effort Miami were putting in.
Where Does This Leave Both Sides?
Miami sit second in the Eastern Conference with 38 points from 18 games. They are a point off top spot. This draw does not do serious damage but it is the kind of result that haunts you when the table tightens up in October. They have the home form to be proud of overall, five wins, three draws, one loss in the last ten at home. But that home record should have meant three points tonight.
Columbus are tenth in the Eastern Conference. Twenty points from 18 games. They are in the mix for the playoffs but they need to be picking up wins, not just draws. Their away form in the last ten games is rough, one win, three draws, four losses. So a point on the road against second-placed Miami is not nothing. The players will take it. But a clean sheet would have been too much to ask, Columbus have conceded in every single away game in the last ten. Every one. The BTTS rate away from home is 87.5%. You heard it here first, backing BTTS in Columbus away games is basically free money. Don't @ me.
The Verdict
This was a game Miami should have won. They dominated the first half, went two goals up, missed three big chances, and then watched a substitute equalise with six minutes to go. That is football. It hurts. Miami fans will be frustrated and they have every right to be.
Columbus will feel like they robbed something, and in a way they did. But you make your own luck. They kept pressing, kept creating dangerous attacks, and eventually the game gave them something back. Fair play.
Three goals, a VAR check, an own goal, and a 84th minute equaliser. For a game kicking off just after midnight UK time, this was the full entertainment package. Honestly, MLS does not get enough credit for the drama it serves up. Mad league. Love it.