Inter Miami - Colorado Rapids summary: scores, stats and highlights | MLS
Inter Miami - Colorado Rapids: As it happened
Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids in a hard-fought game that either team could easily have won.
With Lionel Messi starting on the bench - alongside Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets - Colorado dominated the first half and took a deserved lead when Rafael Navarro fired home from the penalty spot.
The game changed with the halftime introduction of Lionel Messi and the Inter Miami captain needed waited just 12 minutes before marking his return from injury with a nicely-taken goal. The hosts were ahead two minutes later when Leo Alfonso tapped home from close range for his first MLS goal.
With Busquets and Alba joining Messi on the field it looked like Miami would see it out. However they were made to pay when a spell of sloppy play in midfield gave Cole Bassett the chance to snatch a late leveller, an opportunity he duly accepted.
Inter Miami held after late Colorado goal
It wasn't the result that Inter Miami fans will have hoped for but the Herons look to be it pretty good condition ahead of next week's CONCACAF Champions Cup meeting with Monterrey. Colorado were the better team in the first half, Miami the stronger in the second.
Peeep peeeeeep peeeeeeeeep
And that will be the last play of the game! Inter Miami looked the better team in the second half but they will have to settle for a point against Colorado.
Jordi Alba makes progress down the left and flashes a teasing ball across goal. Borgelin is scrapping for the ball in the middle but it doesn't quite fall for him.
Inter Miami are claiming a penalty for handball, but the referee says no!
Inter Miami have just a minute left to force a winner here. The Herons are back on the offensive but can they make anything happen!?
It is Mihailovic who takes the free kick and strikes it well. It beats the wall but Callender saves comfortably.
Diego Gomez, Jordi Alba
Both Miami players are booked. The first for the foul, the second for the protestations.
Positive run from Darren Yapi to run at the Miami defence and win a free kick for the Rapids.
The free kick is around 20 yards from goal, left of centre. A perfect chance for Djordje Mihailovic to make his mark on this game...
Alba's corner kick is met by a Miami head in the middle but the effort is off-target. Colorado win the goal kick.
Good work from Franco Negri and Noah Allen on the left flank to make some progress and win a corner kick for their team. Inter Miami can deliver from the left...
Diego Gomez draws a foul in his own half, easing the pressure during a Colorado attack.
Inter Miami try to force a late opportunity but the offside flag is up on Jordi Alba.
We'll have a minimum of six minutes at Chase Stadium.
Colorado are not settling for a draw here. They are started to get some joy on the break and their offensive pace is causing problems.
GOOOOAAAAAAL Cole Bassett
Colorado are level! It was a sharp counter-attack after Miami lost the ball and Bassett finished coolly past Callender.
We're all square!
Massive chance for Colorado Rapids as Sam Vines is set through on goal by Cole Bassett. He fires low and hard but it bounces just past the post!
The assistant's flag is up. It may not have counted anyway.
Colorado striker Rafael Navarro is replaced by Lamine Diack.
The Rapids win a throw-in in their own half. A chance for them to reset, can they mount a late charge?
Colorado have struggled to build any momentum in the second half.
Messi and Alba try to combine again on the left but Colorado cut out the pass.
The resultant corner kick is played short, worked back to Busquets. The Spaniard clips the ball back over the Rapids' defence to Messi, who hits the post form a tight angle!
Thrilling combination play from Messi, Busquets and Alba on the halfway line sets Messi free in the middle. He charges up the field and, and beating Moise Bombito on the edge of the box, forces a save from Steffen.
Another change from Colorado as Kimani Stewart-Baynes replaces Oliver Larraz.
Brilliant defending from Diego Gomez to stop a counter-attack from Darren Yapi.
Lionel Messi steps up and take and curls the ball over the wall, but can't quite bring it down in time to challenge Steffen.
Goal kick to Colorado.
Lionel Messi tries to slalom his way through the Colorado midfield and wins a free kick for his team.
It's about 30 yards from goal, almost dead central. I wonder who is going to take it...
It looks like Jordi Alba will actually play as one of the wide forwards in this Inter Miami 4-3-3, allowing him greater scope to impact the game in the final third.
Brilliant interplay from Messi and Weigandt to set the latter through on the right. He charges through on goal but Steffen saves well.
Mihailovic swings in the corner kick but Inter Miami get the ball clear. They play the ball out well and fire a pass across to Jordi Alba on the right.
Leo Alfonso seems to be suffering a bit of a knock and he's replaced by Jordi Alba.
Colorado look to start a fightback and Mihailovic wins his team a corner kick. A chance to put some pressure on the Miami backline.
Watch: Lionel Messi goal marks injury comeback
Here it is. Lionel Messi needed just 12 minutes to find the back of the net on his return to the Inter Miami side, highlighting his importance to the team.
Dazzling stuff from Messi again, twisting and turning on the edge of the box and clipping a pass over the defence for Alfonso. The youngster can't quite reach the ball as it bounces through to Steffen.
Inter Miami win a corner kick on the left. Lionel Messi swings it in and Diego Gomez connects well, drawing a sharp save from Zac Steffen.
Colorado's Kevin Cabral is off. Darren Yapi comes on.
It looks like Colorado are preparing a couple of changes...
Phew... Inter Miami are ahead after a dominant start to the second half!
Their passing looks sharper, their runs more dynamic and the crowd is on their feet. This is the Miami that the fans have come to see.
GOOOOAAAAAL! Leo Alfonso
Lionel Messi is involved again, bringing Inter Miami forward and playing it to Ruiz on the right. The youngster fires a low cross across goal and Alfonso is there to finish coolly,
Miami lead!
Did you expect anything else?
It took just 12 minutes for Lionel Messi to find his way onto the scoresheet. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he fired past Steffen from 20 yards!
GOOOOAAAAAL! Lionel Messi
The magical Messi marks his return with a goal within ten minutes!
Good low cross from Negri on the left and Messi passes the ball home from the edge of the box! All-square.
Another change for Miami as Sergio Busquets comes on to replace Tomas Aviles.
There's a brace of chances for Inter Miami as Gressel curls in a dangerous cross from the right, before Lionel Messi tests his shooting boots from the edge of the box.
Colorado survive them both, but Miami are certainly in the ascendance.
Sharp combination play from Messi and Gomez in the Colorado half but a foul is called on the latter for a slightly clumsy stamp.
Messi plays the ball short before curling in a cross. It's well-defended by Colorado, who are now under a bit of pressure.
Anderson is penalised for a foul on Alfonso. Free kick to Miami on the left flank, a chance for Messi to deliver from wide.
Miami clear the corner and Messi plays a long ball forward to Borgelin. The youngster charges onto the loose ball and gets his team up the field.
Fizzing long-range shot from Cole Bassett draws a brilliant save from Drake Callender.
Colorado win a corner kick.
Confirmation from that halftime change: Lionel Messi comes on for Lawson Sunderland.
And we're back!
Can Inter Miami muster a second half comeback?
Lionel Messi comes on for Inter Miami
Creative issues? What creative issues?
Tata Martino looks to his bench and calls for World Cup winner and Ballon d'Or holder Lionel Messi. That should do it!
Visitors on top at Chase Stadium!
There will be an element of luck for all teams who face Inter Miami this year, whether or not they face the Herons with all of their superstars. Colorado Rapids took on a much-changed Miami in the first half - with none of Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba playing from the start - and dominated the play for much of the opening 45 minutes.
Miami looked fairly resilient at the back, save for one lapse of concentration, but they lack any creativity on the ball. Will that change in the second half?
Colorado Rapids lead from the penalty spot
They were on top for much of the first half but Colorado needed a lapse of concentration from Inter Miami to take the lead. Ryan Sailor flew into a clumsy challenge in the box and gave away a penalty kick, allowing Rafael Navarro to slot the ball home.
Peeep peeeeep peeeeeeeeeep
And that's all from the first half at Chase Stadium!
Brilliant footwork from David Ruiz to skip past Cabral. He is a real talent, even shunted to right-back.
Brilliant cross from Gressel finds Sailor in acres of space on the penalty spot. The Miami defender has time to pick his spot but his firm header flies wide of the crossbar.
That was a big chance for Inter Miami!
Good work from Borgelin in the final third, winning a corner kick for his team. Gressel will take it from the right...
Inter Miami had rode their luck at times in the first half and only have themselves to blame for the Rapids' break-through goal.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
GOOOAAAAAL! Rafael Navarro
The Colorado forward makes no mistake, slotting coolly past Drake Callender. Confident spot kick from the Rapids' DP striker.
Penalty to Colorado!
Terrible decision-making from Ryan Sailor to fly into a sliding tackle on Kevin Cabral in the box. Cabral flicks the ball aside and takes the contact.
Clear penalty for the visitors, Navarro will take it...
We're into the final minutes of the first half now.
It looks like Shanyder Borgelin will now play more centrally, with Julian Gressel moved out to the right wing.
Yep, Inter Miami are forced into a first half change.
Diego Gomez comes on to replace Leonardo Campana.
Leonardo Campana
The Inter Miami forward is down. He's receiving treatment on the edge of the penalty box, it looks like a substitution is being readied.
Kevin Cabral
The Colorado man is booked halting an Inter Miami counter attack from Borgelin. A bit unnecessary, really.
Free kick to Colorado on the right.
Djordji Mihailovic curls it in with his right foot, towards Cole Bassett, but it's well-defended by Inter Miami.
Cabral has space on the left and works the ball onto the edge of the box, losing the attacking momentum.
He's looked good on the ball so far but looks reluctant to try something, unwilling to take a risk. It's been a pretty tepid start to the game from both sides.
A chorus of 'Messi, Messi, Messi' rolls around Chase Stadium as the Argentine embarks on a light warm-up along the side of the field.
There's a bit of space for Julian Gressel in the midfield and the Miami man lets fly from 30 yards. It's a well-struck shot but it whistles just wide of Zac Steffen's post.
Colorado now have a chance to counter on Inter Miami. Fernandez tries to feed the ball through for Navarro but Aviles is there to cut it out.
The corner kick is repelled and Inter Miami have a chance to break!
Noah Allen brings it forward and makes it to the edge of the box but runs out of options at the crucial moment. Brilliant recovery run from Moise Bombito to close that attack down.
Leo Alfonso concedes a corner kick, deflecting an Omir Fernandez cross behind.
Colorado certainly started as the more dominant force but Inter Miami have battled back in the last ten minutes. They haven't created much, but the Herons are starting to get a grip on the game.
There's a chance to break for Colorado as Cabral skips past Gressel in midfield. It looks like the game is opening up for the visitors but Tomas Aviles charges in to stem the attack.
It's been an impressive opening 30 minutes from Aviles, playing in this unfamiliar position.
Misplaced pass from Drake Callender gives Colorado a throw-in, mid-way into the Inter Miami half.
Franco Negri is penalised for a clumsy foul on Omir Fernandez on the halfway line.
Colorado try to play Navarro in on goal but Sailor does well to keep pace with the attacker and poke the ball back to Callender.
Colorado win a throw-in on the halfway line after a poor pass from Alfonso.
Rafael Navarro
The first booking of the game goes to the Colorado frontman. He clipped Franco Negri as the Miami full-back dribbled up-field.
Julian Gressel curls in a dangerous ball from the left. Colorado clear the first ball but Miami come back again.
Ruiz does well to pull the ball back to Aviles in the box but the youngster fires over from close range. A first chance for Miami!
First chance for Leo Alfonso to show what he can do. He makes a bit of progress down the left and wins his team a corner kick.
The Herons have started to get a few touches of the ball in the last few minutes, easing a spell of pretty constant pressure from Colorado Rapids.
Inter Miami pump a long ball forward towards Campana and win the knock-down. The ball is flicked out to Gressel on the right with space for a cross, but he can't find a teammate in the middle.
The free kick is cleared for a Colorado Rapids corner. The resultant cross is swiftly rebuffed by Inter Miami but they can't take advantage of a decent chance to counter-attack.
Colorado do now win a free kick, 40 yards from goal on the left. Mihailovic stands over it...
Another contentious challenge from Miami, this time it's Ruiz on Cabral. The Colorado man goes down but the referee waves away the protestations.
Big calls for a penalty from Colorado!
Good work from Navarro found Mihailovic on the edge of the box. He shuffled the ball onto his right foot and goes down under a hard challenge from Ruiz.
Colorado want a penalty but the referee says no!
Inter Miami clear the first ball but the Rapids come back again. They look to force an angle down the right but the ball is lost and Miami win a throw-in.
Great work from Navarro to press the Miami backline and win a corner kick for his side. Mihailovic will take it from the right...
In the first minutes it looks like Tomas Aviles is indeed playing as a holding midfielder, with Miami sticking to to 4-3-3 formation favoured in recent weeks.
A teasing free kick is curled in by Mihailovic but Miami do enough to get the ball clear and Colorado play it all the way back to Zac Steffen.
The Rapids win a free kick on the left, near to the touchline. A chance for them to test this much-changed Miami backline...
Confident start from the Rapids, who knock the ball around nicely in the opening seconds. Already Djordje Mihailovic is roaming freely.
And we're off!
Colorado Rapids get us underway at Chase Stadium...
The players are out on the field and kick-off is just seconds away now.
Inter Miami have named a much-changed starting XI but Tata Martino knows that his team need the three points to regain some momentum in MLS.
Chase Stadium is filling up nicely ahead of kick-off and the conditions - clear air, blue skies - could scarcely be any better for gameday.
Big responsibility for Tomas Aviles
Another point on the Inter Miami line-up: It looks like young defender Tomas Aviles will be playing as the holding midfielder, in the absence of Sergio Busquets. It's a key role in Miami's ball-playing style and Aviles will be relied upon to help the Herons progress the ball up the field.
He will also be up against Colorado playmaker Djordje Mihailovic, who scored twice against LAFC last week and can be a real dangerman.
Inter Miami put through their paces at Chase Stadium
It's a much-changed Inter Miami side that takes on Colorado Rapids today, one with plenty of players still looking to make their mark in MLS. The likes of Leo Alfonso and Shanyder Borgelin will see this as an opportunity to impress.
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We're expecting Lionel Messi to make an appearance off the bench today as he continues his recovery from a minor hamstring issue. The Argentine starts on the bench alongside Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, a sign that Tata Martino has his sights set on next week's CONCACAF Champions Cup trip to Monterrey.
So, how fit is Messi?
New-look forward line for Inter Miami
Tata Martino has made some brave decisions with his team to take on Colorado Rapids today. With non of the ex-Barcelona quartet in the starting XI the Herons' team has a distinctly second-choice feel to it.
That is particularly apparent in the forward line, where Shanyder Borgelin and Leo Alfonso flank Leo Campana. Neither Borgelin nor Alfonso have much top level experience and they will be eager to make a good impression today.
Zac Steffen captains Colorado Rapids
The USMNT goalkeeper returned to MLS this year and signed with Colorado Rapids. Steffen enjoyed a trophy-laden time with Premier League champions Manchester City before moving to a much-changed Rapids team over the winter.
Tonight, coming up against Inter Miami, he captains his new team for the very first time.
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Inter Miami are struggling through a period of injury problems that has blighted them in recent weeks. They have been able to name Lionel Messi in the matchday squad for the first time in more than three weeks but Tata Martino is clearly keen to rotate his aging squad.
Here's a look Inter Miami's injury situation...
Why is Luis Suarez on the bench?
One piece of news that few Inter Miami fans will have been expecting is the decision not to start any of Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba. They are the team's four outstanding talents but now, each well in to their mid-30s, can no longer be relied upon to feature week-in, week-out.
With a crucial CONCACAF Champions Cup second leg against Monterrey next week, a game they must win to remain alive, Tata Martino has opted to give them all a rest.
Messi, Surez, Busquets and Alba on the bench!
Well, who saw that coming?! Lionel Messi is back in the matchday squad but he, along with the rest of the ex-Barcelona quartet, start on the bench.
Here's the Colorado Rapids starting XI
The Western Conference visitors name a strong team with USMNT prospect Djordje Mihailovic in midfield and former Manchester City goalkeeper Zac Steffen between the posts.
Lionel Messi enters, alongside Alba and Suarez
The Argentine is back at Chase Stadium for today's game and, after a three-week absence, is back in the matchday squad. We should have team news in the next couple of minutes, we'll bring you the Inter Miami and Colorado Rapids starting line-ups as soon as we have them.
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We'll have team news from Chase Stadium in the next few minutes. The presence, or absence, of Lionel Messi in the Inter Miami line-up will draw the eye but there is an argument to suggest that his long-time friend Luis Suarez is just as important to this Herons team.
We take a look at Suarez's start to life in MLS...
Stage is set at Chase Stadium
Inter Miami will be desperate to get their domestic campaign back on track with a victory over Colorado Rapids today. The team have suffered huge numbers of injuries already in 2024 but will be bolstered by the return of young midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi from injury.
The 19-year-old picked up a hernia issue in pre-season training and has not featured at all in 2024.
How fit is Lionel Messi?
“[Friday] we will see how he feels in training. If he feels good, Tata will surely want to play him for 10 minutes, 15 or 45, but it is certain that we want to have him back."
“He trains every day with the physio, sometimes he goes out on the field depending on how he feels, trains with the group and the physical part with the physio, but lately he has been participating quite a lot in training."
What time is kick-off for Inter Miami - Colorado Rapids?
The Herons' fixtures have drawn an unusually global audience since their transformation last summer and soccer fans around the world will be eager to follow the team across the 2024 campaign.
They host Colorado Rapids today and the visitors have kindly provided kick-off times for MLS' global audience.
That's the question on everyone's mind as they head to Chase Stadium today. Will Lionel Messi be fit enough to feature for Inter Miami?
We take a look at what's known about Messi's injury status and comments made by Inter Miami coaches in recent days. Here's what we know so far...
Hello and welcome to AS USA! I'm Will Gittins and I'll be bringing you full live coverage of Inter Miami's latest MLS test, a home game against Colorado Rapids.
The Herons have struggled in recent weeks, beaten by Monterrey in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie and falling to a 4-0 defeat against New York Red Bulls. But those games were played without the often decisive presence of Lionel Messi, who returns to the matchday squad against Colorado.
Will Messi' return bring about an upturn in performances from Miami? Or will Colorado further expose their defensive struggles? We'll find out shortly...