Leonardo Campana came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner, lifting Inter Miami to a 1-0 victory over D.C. United in Major League Soccer on Saturday.
Despite Lionel Messi's return to the starting lineup, Miami struggled to break down D.C. United's disciplined defence.
Ecuadorian striker Campana, who has seen his starting position taken by Luis Suarez this season, was substituted in during the third minute of stoppage time. With his first touch, he scored the decisive goal after a brilliant run and a perfectly timed pass from Sergio Busquets. Campana controlled the lofted ball and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Alex Bono.
The result was harsh on Troy Lesesne's team, who showed significant improvement compared to their performances under Wayne Rooney last season. With this win, Miami clinched their ninth victory of the season, equaling their total from last year after just 15 games.
The match experienced a 25-minute delay due to lightning, followed by a torrential downpour shortly after kickoff. Miami dominated possession in the first half, with D.C. United content to defend and counter-attack. This strategy nearly paid off when Jared Stroud missed a close-range opportunity in the second half.
Messi, who missed the midweek match against Orlando due to a knee injury, was limited to two free-kick attempts that hit the wall and was largely contained by the D.C. defense. D.C. United grew into the game, with Matti Peltola and Cristian Dajome coming close to scoring.
Campana’s goal came after a concussion substitution allowed Miami coach Gerardo Martino to make an additional change. Martino admitted that his team was fortunate to win, noting their lacklustre performance and crediting D.C. United's defensive efforts. "This game should have been a 0-0 draw. We weren't sharp, but I don't want to take away from the opposition's defensive merit," said Martino.
In other MLS action, New York City FC defeated the New York Red Bulls in the "Hudson River Derby," with Mounsef Bakrar scoring the decisive goal. Federico Bernardeschi's hat-trick led Toronto FC to a 5-1 victory over Montreal. The Columbus Crew triumphed 3-1 over the Chicago Fire, while Real Salt Lake staged a dramatic comeback to win 5-3 against the Colorado Rapids. Daniel Gazdag scored twice for the Philadelphia Union in their 3-0 victory at the New England Revolution. Phil Neville’s Portland continued to struggle, suffering a 2-1 loss to Minnesota despite leading 1-0.
Campana's last-minute strike not only extended Miami's unbeaten run to nine games but also highlighted the unpredictable and thrilling nature of Major League Soccer.
