Inter Miami Draw Charlotte 3-3 After Losing a Three Goal Lead

Inter Miami CF drew 3-3 with Charlotte FC at Nu Stadium in Miami on Saturday, on the final day of the MLS regular season. Miami led 3-0 at half time. Charlotte scored three times after the break, and substitute Rodolfo Aloko levelled the game in the first minute of added time. The draw kept Inter Miami in second place in the Eastern Conference, and Charlotte finished as the fifth seed.

Three goals before half time

Charlotte thought they had scored first. Liel Abada found the net in the fourth minute, but the goal was disallowed after officials found the ball had touched Idan Toklomati's hand before the pass. Miami then took control. Ian Fray scored in the 14th minute off a corner. Luis Suarez made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, off a headed pass by German Berterame from a corner. Rodrigo De Paul scored the third in the 42nd minute, with a shot from outside the box that beat goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina at the left post. Miami went in 3-0 ahead, and the game looked settled.

Charlotte answer in five minutes

Abada started the comeback. He scored in the 50th minute and again in the 55th minute, cutting the lead to 3-2 with more than half an hour still to play. His second goal was his 10th of the season, his first double-digit goals season for Charlotte. It also gave Charlotte three players with 10 or more goals this season: Abada, Pep Biel and Idan Toklomati. Biel recorded his 18th assist of the season in the game, the most in MLS this regular season, according to Charlotte FC. Miami could not close the game out, and Charlotte kept pushing players forward.

Aloko completes the comeback

The equaliser came in the first minute of added time. Tyger Smalls hit a shot in the middle of the box that rang off the post, and Aloko volleyed the bouncing ball in. It was Aloko's third goal in seven matches. USA Today reported that Lionel Messi then hit a shot off the post from the restart, as Miami tried to avoid the draw, but Charlotte held on for the point.

The playoff picture

Inter Miami remained in second place in the Eastern Conference despite giving away the 3-0 lead, and will face Columbus Crew in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Charlotte finished as the fifth seed and will play Chicago Fire FC in a Round One best-of-three series. Charlotte travel to Chicago for Game One and host Game Two at Bank of America Stadium. Both clubs start the playoffs knowing the other side of this scoreline: Miami must protect leads, and Charlotte have shown they can chase a game down.