DC United

The sellout crowd of over 72,026 made M&T Bank Stadium into a busy ball of energy. After a foggy, dreary afternoon, the sun came out just in time for kickoff between the defending champions Inter Miami and a DC United team trying to make Baltimore their home away from home.

It was also the first time Lionel Messi had played against DC United in the DMV since he arrived in MLS in July 2023. After signing with the team just after the two teams met in 2023, Messi did not travel to DC due to injury for both the games in 2024 and 2025. His appearance generated a ton of excitement from the fans in attendance, with DC United doing its best to get the fans on their side.

Inter Miami was successful at making the match a wide open affair in the first 20 minutes. Miami’s first opportunity came in the eighth minute, when Rodrigo De Paul was able to get a shot near the top of the circle outside of the penalty area. The shot was easily collected by Sean Johnson.

In the 16th minute, DC United saw its first great chance. Jackson Hopkins got some open space in the middle of the field to gather the ball and make a break. He fired a shot from just outside the box, but Dayne St. Clair was able to make the save.

Just a half minute later, Inter Miami struck. Germán Berterame was able to force a turnover on Lucas Bartlett very deep in DC’s defensive half. Berterame passed the ball to Telasco Segovia in the middle of the box, who passed it to the right side of the box, where Rodrigo De Paul awaited. De Paul took a second to collect the ball and fired a shot into the left side of the net to make it 1-0 to Miami.

DC United wanted to try and equalize, but Miami did a great job of limiting their ability to string together multiple passes. Meanwhile, the match was wide open for Miami to attack.

Ten minutes after the opening goal, the man many in the large crowd came to see got his goal. It didn’t take much open space for it to happen, but Inter Miami had the ball on the left flank, with Noah Allen finding Mateo Silvetti. Silvetti made a terrific pass to Lionel Messi, who was able to tap it over a diving Sean Johnson to make it 2-0. It was Messi’s third goal of the season.

In the 37th minute, DC United had a great scoring opportunity that almost turned into yet another Messi goal. Inter Miami had a turnover in their defensive half, and Gabriel Pirani was able to take the ball and move inside the penalty area with a couple of dribbles. However, before he could get a shot, Yannick Bright made a miraculous tackle from behind, saving the goal opportunity and keeping it 2-0.

Miami moved quickly down the field, and the ball ended up on Messi’s foot once again. Moving with the ball laterally outside the box, he was able to force Brandon Servania to hesitate on the tackle, freeing him up to take a curling shot across goal. The shot curled inches wide of the net.

Inter Miami was able to open the field up through turnovers and quick counters, and the halftime score was 2-0.

DC United was able to take some chances in the second half, particularly in the first 20 minutes. In the 60th minute, Jackson Hopkins was able to find some space to take a long shot from the right side of the box. The shot was deflected by Noah Allen out for a corner kick. On the ensuing corner kick, Lucas Bartlett’s header was blocked by Maximiliano Falcón, keeping DC off the scoreboard.

A few minutes later, substitute Louis Munteanu had a highlight reel chance. On a long cross into the box, Jackson Hopkins was able to save the ball from going over the end line, sending the ball in the air towards Munteanu. Munteanu attempted a bicycle kick that arced just inches wide of the net.

The second half saw DC United show more urgency. They were able to move the ball forward and put some pressure on Miami’s defense. In the 75th minute, DC was finally able to pull a goal back. On the turnover, Matti Peltola was able to deflect the ball to João Peglow. Peglow passed to Jackson Hopkins just inside the box, who fired a shot that was saved by St. Clair. Tai Baribo crashed the net and was able to put the rebound away to cut Inter Miami’s lead to 1. VAR quickly checked and confirmed that Baribo was onside on the rebound, and the goal stood, Baribo’s second on the season.

The goal gave DC United new life and 15 minutes to try and find the equalizer. Miami had another opportunity in the 78th minute where they appealed for a penalty, but the tackle from DC was clean and play continued.

As stoppage time begun, Miami had one final chance. Berterame had a close range shot that Sean Johnson made a great save on to keep the score 2-1. Berterame had yet another chance that skied over the bar, keeping DC with life.

DC continued to press forward and try desperately to get the goal that would bring things level. Despite a flurry in the final minutes, DC United couldn’t get the equalizer and the referee’s whistle brought the match to a close.

DC United drops to 1W-2L-0D on the season, their second straight loss. They look to rebound next weekend on the road against the Chicago Fire.