Messi’s late free kick goal sparks Inter Miami to rally for a 3-3 tie against Union

CHESTER Pa AP Lionel Messi got a rise out of the crowd when he scored on a free kick late in the second half to pull Inter Miami within one and Telasco Segovia tied the event in the final minutes helping Inter Miami rally from a two-goal deficit to tie the Philadelphia Union - on Saturday night Messi the eight-time Ballon d Or winner and World Cup champion scored a crucial goal in his first championship since he challenged Inter Miami during a rare television interview to stick together after a loss against Orlando They stuck together down the stretch to stun the Union Messi decisively solved -year-old Union goalie Andrew Rick late in front of a packed house that came to watch one of soccer s greats and also to root on a Union band that came minutes away from its th win of the season Quinn Sullivan scored the first goal and Tai Baribo added two more for the Union Tadeo Allende scored in the second half to make it - Inter Miami Messi buried a free kick late in the championship that made it - and seemed like it could spark Inter Miami out of its funk Segovia took care of the rest Messi brought out his share of fans in his second career MLS visit to Subaru Park though the Messi Mania from his visit was tamped down to Messi Mildness this time The pregame scene outside the stadium saw fans in every beer hot dog bathroom line in Messi jerseys and T-shirts ready to root on the World Cup champion from Argentina Unlike his first visit when tickets soared past on the secondary sphere and season-ticket holders gleefully sold their tickets to make money good seats Saturday were still available on the secondary realm for less than a pop moments before kickoff Messi missed the trip to Chester last season because of international games with Argentina at Copa America Messi who turns in June received a mix of cheers and boos in his return when he was introduced yet the impact was the same Messi s group set an MLS record for best regular-season mark a year ago going - - finishing with the the greater part points and top winning percentage in league history The four regular-season losses tied a league mark for the fewest in a season But this season looks nothing like last season We re coming off a period of bad results Messi reported Apple TV But we have to keep working and think about what s next With three or four games left in May we have to finish the best practicable way to be able to face the Club World Cup That tournament starts June It s the next big event on Inter Miami s calendar and particular games will be played down the road at Lincoln Financial Field home of the Super Bowl champion Eagles Eagles star cornerback Cooper DeJean who became the first performer in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or sum a touchdown on his birthday struck the ceremonial pregame drum to get the festivities started Sullivan and Baribo took it from there each scoring first-half goals against Miami s Oscar Ustari to keep the good times rolling for the hottest organization in MLS Because of Messi they wouldn t last AP MLS https apnews com hub major-league-soccer Source