Inter Miami CF edged Colorado Rapids 3-2 in a breathless Major League Soccer fixture on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High, riding Lionel Messi’s brilliance to claim all three points in Denver.
Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 18th minute, calmly converting to put the visitors in front after an energetic opening in which Colorado had looked willing to press high and control territory. Inter Miami did not dominate possession on the afternoon, but they were clinical when the decisive moments arrived.
The visitors doubled their lead deep into first-half stoppage time when Germán Berterame found the net with a header in the 45’+5′ minute, a punishing blow for the Rapids just before the interval. At 2-0 down, Colorado had plenty to do despite having seen more of the ball and asking more questions in sustained phases.
The home side responded exactly as their supporters would have wanted after the break. Rafael Navarro pulled one back in the 58th minute to ignite the contest, and just four minutes later Darren Yapi equalized in the 62nd minute as the Rapids’ pressure finally translated onto the scoreboard. For a spell, the pitch tilted sharply toward Inter Miami’s end, and Colorado looked the more likely side to complete the turnaround.
But when the match needed a defining touch, Messi supplied it again. In the 79th minute, the Argentine restored Inter Miami’s advantage with his second goal of the afternoon, capping a ruthlessly efficient attacking display from the visitors, who finished with just six total shots and three on target yet still left with three goals.
The closing stages brought more tension still. Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute, giving Colorado a late numerical advantage and one final opening to salvage a result. The Rapids pushed forward in stoppage time, but Inter Miami held firm under pressure to see out the win.
It was a frustrating defeat for Colorado, who finished with 62 percent possession, 14 shots, and four efforts on target, but were ultimately undone by moments of superior quality in both penalty areas. Joshua Atencio, Wayne Frederick, Lucas Herrington, and Jackson Travis were all booked for the home side in a combative contest, while Rodrigo De Paul, Micael, Berterame, Telasco Segovia, and Messi also went into the referee’s notebook for Inter Miami.
In the end, the headline belonged to Messi, whose goals in the 18th and 79th minutes proved decisive, with Berterame’s 45’+5′ header supplying the other crucial contribution. Colorado’s rally through Navarro in the 58th minute and Yapi in the 62nd minute made this one a genuine contest, but Inter Miami’s cutting edge made the difference.
Goal scorers: Lionel Messi (18′ pen, 79′), Germán Berterame (45’+5′) for Inter Miami CF; Rafael Navarro (58′) and Darren Yapi (62′) for Colorado Rapids.
