Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi delivered another reminder of his quality, rescuing a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
The match at Soldier Field saw the Fire take an early lead, only to pay the price for growing conservative as the game wore on.
Chicago had three shots in the opening ten minutes and looked sharp in the early exchanges, causing Miami real problems before the momentum shifted.
Robert Lewandowski gave the Fire the lead with a stunning goal in the 10th minute, his sixth strike in just nine games since arriving in Chicago.
“We know if we get him in the right spots, he’s going to do his thing,” Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady said of Lewandowski after the match.
“So it’s just about getting him that service and getting him in those positions where he can work his magic. And you saw tonight, it was a hell of a finish.”
Messi was not at his sharpest in the first half, skying one effort in the 19th minute and scuffing another shortly after that Brady handled without difficulty.
The Argentine did force a superb fingertip save from Brady in the 41st minute, weaving through the Chicago defence before testing the goalkeeper from the top of the box.
Chicago’s caution after taking the lead ultimately cost them, as Messi and Miami found their way back into the contest and secured the equaliser.
Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter acknowledged just how dangerous Messi remains at any given moment during a match, regardless of how the game is going.
“Anything can happen in these games. When you have quality players on the field, anything can happen,” Berhalter said. “Messi can score in an instant.”
The result proved costly for Chicago in the Eastern Conference standings, with New England leapfrogging the Fire following their own win earlier in the evening.
That result dropped Chicago to fourth in the Eastern Conference, making what should have been a winning night feel like a significant missed opportunity.
A club-record crowd of 63,094 packed Soldier Field, with Berhalter noting that at least half of those supporters were cheering on the home side.
“What a crowd, huh? What a celebration of soccer,” Berhalter said. “When they announce Robert’s name, the crowd goes crazy. When Messi touches the ball, the crowd goes crazy. This was a really special environment tonight.”
Despite the electric atmosphere and Lewandowski’s brilliance, Chicago could not hold on against an opponent who has spent two decades punishing teams for any lapse in concentration.
