Inter Miami vs. DC United score, result, stats as Leo Campana wins it for Messi's side in extra time

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Kyle Bonn
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• 22 min read
Leonardo Campana of Inter Miami
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Inter Miami hadn't found the back of the net in 211 minutes, an astonishing number for the side that sports arguably the best player in the history of football.

That's when the club's second all-time leading goal scorer made the difference. Leonardo Campana, off the bench as an extra substitute, scored in the 94th minute with his first touch of the game, giving Inter Miami a dramatic 1-0 victory over D.C. United at home Saturday.

The visitors had worked so hard to limit Messi's influence, with the Argentine back on the field after being rested midweek with a slight injury. Messi had precious few chances in front of goal, but it would not be down to the MLS goal contributions leader to snatch the defining moment.

Instead, it was Campana with the deciding strike, blasting the Herons to all three points in stoppage time.

Campana had only come onto the match moments earlier, with Inter Miami out of substitute windows until D.C. United replaced Martin Rodriguez with a concussion sub, which gave Tata Martino an additional change. He took full advantage, bringing Campana in, and the Ecuadorian got away from defender Garrison Tubbs to receive the ball free on goal, smashing the underside of the crossbar with a laser beam.

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Neither side seemed destined to find the net, as both goalkeepers made great saves to keep the match scoreless. D.C. United goalkeeper Alex Bono stymied unmarked Benjamin Cremaschi in the first half, while Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender kept Cristian Dajome from finding the net just moments before Campana's winner.

The result kept Inter Miami atop the Eastern Conference by a point, matching the victory by FC Cincinnati, who topped St. Louis City by a 3-1 score. D.C. United, meanwhile, drop to ninth, level with the Philadelphia Union at 17 points but in the final playoff position based on tiebreakers.

The Sporting News followed the Orlando City vs. Inter Miami match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

Inter Miami vs. DC United final score

 ScoreGoal scorers
Inter Miami1Campana (90+4')
D.C. United0–

Kickoff: 8:05 p.m. ET / 5:05 p.m. PT (delayed 35 minutes due to weather)
Location: Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Referee: Guido Gonzalez

Starting lineups:

Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 57. Weigandt, 6. Aviles, 21. Freire (Kryvtsov, 67'), 18. Alba — 24. Gressel (D. Ruiz, 82'), 5. Busquets, 30. Cremaschi (Taylor, 57') — 10. Messi, 9. Suarez, 7. Rojas.

D.C. United (3-5-2, right to left): 24. Bono (GK) — 97. McVey, 3. Bartlett, 15. Birnbaum (Tubbs, 80') — 22. Herrera, 8. Stroud (Murrell, 80'), 25. Hopkins (Peltola, 57'), 43. Klich, 7. Santos (M. Rodriguez, 80' — Pirani, 90') — 21. Ku-Dipietro (Dajome, 64'), 20. Benteke.

Inter Miami vs. DC United stats

Inter MiamiStatDC United
8Shots15
2Shots on target3
66%Possession34%
540Passes235
4Corners3
8Fouls14
2Yellow cards4

Inter Miami vs. DC United live updates, highlights, commentary

FULLTIME: Inter Miami 1-0 DC United

A gritty victory for Inter Miami as Leonardo Campana comes off the bench as an extra substitute for the Herons and wins it with his first touch of the game. An incredible moment to win a match that, in truth, deserved a goal.

The visitors will be gutted to taste defeat here, as they worked incredibly hard and did so well to limit Lionel Messi's influence in both the creative and finishing departments.

Inter Miami vs. DC United: Second Half

90+6 min: Mateusz Klich is booked for a late foul, while Campana was also shown the yellow card for taking his shirt off in the celebration.

90+4 min: GOAL! INTER MIAMI! LEONARDO CAMPANA PUTS INTER MIAMI AHEAD WITH HIS FIRST TOUCH OF THE GAME!

Just seconds after entering the field, he gets free down the right as D.C. United are scattered, and he whallops a thunderbolt that slams the underside of the crossbar and ricochets down, just over the line! The hosts lead very, very late! A thunderous finish from the Ecudorian, after an excellent run to get away from young defender Garrison Tubbs!

90+3 min: Chance, D.C. United! DRAKE CALLENDER KEEPS THE MATCH SCORELESS! A fantastic save from the U.S. international goalkeeper as he pushes aside a glorious opportunity for Cristian Dajome from the penalty spot! Both goalkeepers have made their mark on this match!

Tata Martino uses his extra sub from D.C. United's concussion change, as Leonardo Campana enters for Matias Rojas.

89th min: The referee aggressively urges the D.C. United medical staff onto the pitch as substitute Martin Rodriguez takes a clearance directly to the dome. He's very unsteady on his feet, and eventually drops to his seat on the pitch. If he needs to come off, D.C. United would be afforded a concussion substitute, which gives Inter Miami an extra substitute too should Tata Martino wish to use it.

They're going to take it, with Gabriel Pirani coming on, and seven minutes of stoppage time shown.

86th min: Chance, D.C. United! Jacob Murrell goes on a solo run down the right, and cutting in on his left, he takes a speculative shot from a good distance out. It doesn't look like there's much of a window, but his effort is a quality one, forcing a save by Drake Callender at the near post on a strong and venomous low shot.

79th min: There's a triple change for D.C. United and Steve Birmbaum, knowing he's about to come off, takes a seat on the pitch to give his teammates a breather. He's replaced by Wake Forest product Garrison Tubbs, while Jacob Murrell and Martin Rodriguez enter the field as well. That means the visitors are out of both substitutes and windows for the final 10+ minutes.

Tata Martino responds by bringing David Ruiz on for Julian Gressel. That's only three substitutions for Inter Miami, but they're out of substitute windows so they are done for changes the rest of the way too.

71st min: Chance, Inter Miami! Lionel Messi grazes a powerful shot just inches over the crossbar! D.C. United players think he handled it while chesting the ball down, and had it gone in there would have been a review as it looks to have hit his shoulder, but it's moot as the Argentine fires high with his left foot.

68th min: Chance, D.C. United! Oh no, just onto the pitch, Cristian Dajome puts an effort over the crossbar! D.C. United's buildup is beautiful down the right, and it comes to the substitute who rifles it high from about 17 yards out!

Then, moments later, another recent addition Matias Peltola has a pop from about 25 yards out, and doesn't come far from testing Drake Callender, but puts it wide right! D.C. United lead MLS in expected goals, and you can see why, but they struggle in the finishing department, and that is hurting them again tonight.

64th min: D.C. United make another change as Cristian Dajome enters the pitch in place of Ted Ku-DiPietro, which is a surprise as the latter has been impressive since the break.

There's a stoppage in the action as Nicolas Freire receives medical treatment on the pitch, and it's a concern for Inter Miami, as he cannot continue, with Serhiy Kryvtsov entering. Freire has been excellent since joining Inter Miami this past offseason, but he sports a heavy limp as he comes off the field.

60th min: Chance, D.C. United! The ball falls to Mateusz Klich at the top of the penalty area, and switching to his left, he lets a curler fly on net! It looks like Drake Callender may have been able to reach it, but just before it challenges the goalkeeper, Tomas Aviles is there to clear it off the line with a header!

57th min: Both sides turn to their bench as Robert Taylor enters for Inter Miami replacing Benjamin Cremaschi, and D.C. United bring on Matti Peltola for Jackson Hopkins.

52nd min: Chance, D.C. United! Peter Stroud puts a huge chance wide! It's a baffling miss from the visiting striker, as he gets free from a tight angle on the right but somehow, incredibly, drags it across the face of goal and over the end line, and in truth it wasn't even close. He was completely unmarked at the far post and Drake Callender was scrambling across his goal mouth, but somehow Stroud can't even get it close!

48th min: Christopher McVey is the fourth player in this match, and third D.C. United player, to be booked as he clips the foot of Sergio Busquets to stop an Inter Miami counter. It was a tactical foul, and one that prevented a promising breakaway. Smart booking, but D.C. United have to be careful if they are to finish this match with 11 players on the pitch.

Kickoff: They're under way for the final 45 minutes of this match, still waiting for the first goal of the game. Despite the fact that two of the three goal leaders in MLS are on the field (Benteke & Suarez) and Lionel Messi, who leads the league in goal contributions, we're scoreless at the midway mark.

Rain is falling to begin the second half, but only lightly, for now.

HALFTIME: Inter Miami 0-0 DC United

We have reached the break scoreless in wet and stormy South Florida. Lionel Messi had a few moments from free-kicks, but overall, D.C. United have done well to limit the Argentine's influence on the match, swarming him with three or even four defenders every time he gets on the ball.

Benjamin Cremaschi had the best opportunity for either team, but Alex Bono stood tall to deny the chance. Otherwise, there has been a lot of running, a lot of fouling, but very few moments in front of goal for either side.

Inter Miami vs. DC United: First Half

44th min: Chance, Inter Miami! ALEX BONO KEEPS THIS GAME LEVEL WITH A SENSATIONAL SAVE! Benjamin Cremaschi is played clean through, and one-on-one with the goalkeeper shaded to the right, takes the shot, but can't get it past Bono who comes out off his line to challenge. Great goalkeeping by the former Syracuse star!

38th min: Another chance for Lionel Messi from a set-piece after a foul, from about 23 yards out almost dead-on straight at the top of the penalty area. There's a lot less arguing from D.C. United this time around as Luis Suarez is clearly fouled by Pedro Santos.

Messi again hits a free-kick straight into the wall, the second time tonight in two chances.

34th min: Jordi Alba gets played in by Lionel Messi down the left, but he flubs the cross attempt. It's a big mistake by the Spaniard, as Inter Miami had big numbers in the penalty area, and there were a bunch of options to pick out.

Then moments later, they counter again, as Messi dribbles around three players before releasing Alba again, and while this cross is a bit better, it's still cut out by Christopher McVey before it can reach a wide-open Luis Suarez at the far post. The offside flag goes up, but regardless, Alba has to be better with those deliveries.

30th min: Now Matias Rojas is booked for a bad tackle, as things continue to stay chippy. There's the official hydration break, and of course, in classic Florida fashion, the rain has essentially dried up entirely.

26th min: The referee has given a pair of fouls to D.C. United, and the hosts are incensed with the decision-making of the official. Inter Miami players lose it, and things are both very physical and very tense. The referee has a real job to do here to keep it under control.

22nd min: Luis Suarez goes flying to the turf and the referee whistles for a foul to Inter Miami well within Lionel Messi range just outside the top of the penalty area. Replay showed it might have been a legal tackle with the ball won, but the referee's given it. A yellow card is issued to DC United captain Steve Birnbaum striker Christian Benteke (clarified five minutes later) as a host of visiting players surround the referee, knowing the danger of Messi from a dead ball situation.

This time, however, Messi drills it straight into the wall. 

18th min: We told you the weather in Florida changes on a dime, and sure enough, it's ABSOLUTELY POURING now at Chase Stadium. Just a total deluge. They'll continue to play through it as long as there's no lightning in the area.

(It's not actually a hurricane, Alex is joking)

15th min: Marcelo Weigandt, who has been heavily involved on both ends at the start of this match, has begun to limp and just motioned to the bench. He may need an early substitute, as the broadcast notes he took an inadvertent kick from Christian Benteke. For now, he plays on.

Rain begins to fall at Chase Stadium.

9th min: Sergio Busquets wow's the Chase Stadium crowd with a glorious little bit of skill to backheel the ball to a teammate, springing an Inter Miami attack, which eventually results in a corner conceded by former Inter Miami defender Christopher McVey.

The set-piece delivery is cleared by the head of Lucas Bartlett.

7th min: Both teams have shown early signs of attacking intent, which could foreshadow an exciting match. Lionel Messi's long-ball for Marcelo Weigandt down the left is flagged for offside, and then Mateusz Klich is dispossessed on the counter by a good Weigandt tackle.

Kickoff: After a 35 minute weather delay, the opening whistle from referee Guido Gonzalez sounds at Chase Stadium! The Apple TV broadcast notes that there will be a hydration break in the first half, given how warm and humid it is in south Florida tonight.

Inter Miami vs. DC United: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to delayed kickoff: Close behind Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference standings — and slightly above D.C. United — are the two New York sides, sitting third and fourth. In the rivalry match known as the Hudson River derby, NYCFC have taken a lead on a goal by Hannes Wolf. Ideally for these two clubs here tonight, that match would result in a draw. We're not quite halfway through the season, but a little table watching doesn't hurt!

30 mins to delayed kickoff: The teams have finally taken the pitch for warmups! A bit later than expected, but this match is nearing the opening whistle.

UPDATE (7:20 p.m. ET): The adverse weather has subsided, and Inter Miami have announced a new start time of 8:05 p.m. ET, which will be a delay of just 35 minutes. All things considered, not too bad! Teams should be starting warmups shortly.

30 mins to kickoff: We are still under a weather delay, confirmed by Inter Miami yet again, but the starting lineups have still been released on schedule. Lionel Messi starts, as expected, and Jordi Alba returns to the lineup, replacing his backup Franco Negri.

For D.C. United, there's two changes from the midweek defeat as Pedro Santos comes in at left wing-back to replace Cristian Dajome, and Steve Birnbaum enters the back line with Matti Peltola dropping out.

1 hour to kickoff: Unfortunately, with an hour before scheduled kickoff time, the match has entered a weather delay as thunderstorms circle around south Florida. It's unclear when things will clear up, as stormy weather in the state can appear and disappear and reappear again on a moment's notice, making forecasting precipitation difficult by merely looking at the radar.

There has been an extremely high amount of rain on the east coast of the United States the past few weeks, and there's a front pushing through at the moment which has brought thunderstorms to the entire coast of Florida and North Carolina as well.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: Christian Benteke was unable to add to his goals tally midweek in the heavy defeat to the New York Red Bulls, but his 11 still leave him tied for the league lead and one above Lionel Messi. He is the main scoring threat on this DC United side, but his goals have often been the product of solid team play. We'll see if the visitors tonight can work possessional build-ups like this against Inter Miami's tireless press.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: After missing the midweek rivalry game at Orlando City, in which Inter Miami did not score, would appear that Lionel Messi is set to go for today's game.

Inter Miami have included Messi in their pre-match promotional content on social media, which is usually a good indicator that he will suit up and take the field tonight.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: The annual salary release day was this past week, and we learned that Lionel Messi is making a guaranteed annual salary worth an astonishing $20.5 million, which already makes him the fourth-highest career earner in MLS history, behind only USMNT veterans Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, and Toronto FC star Lorenzo Insigne. David Beckham is fifth on that list, despite having last played for the LA Galaxy 12 years ago.

While this was not released by the league, the Miami Herald reports that Messi's total package is $150 million, and includes equity in the club, something which has been consistently reported since he joined the league.

In all, Inter Miami tops the league's team payroll list by a wide margin, with their $41.6 million payroll over $10 million higher than any other club.

2 hours to kickoff: David Beckham went on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show last weekend to discuss a number of topics, including Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami. He said "always had the plan" to bring Messi to South Florida since he gained ownership of the club, and discussed how the league has grown from when he came to play for the LA Galaxy and when Messi arrived at Inter Miami.

Inter Miami vs. DC United pre-match facts, figures

  • Inter Miami have lost just one MLS game with Lionel Messi in the starting lineup, a competitively meaningless match at Charlotte FC to close out the 2023 regular season.
  • The 17 points collected by D.C. United after their first 12 matches represents the club's best start to a season since 2019, the last time they made the playoffs. They had 15 points at this stage last season, and 14 points in 2022 when they finished bottom of the Eastern Conference. 
  • 11 goals from Christian Benteke through 13 games put him on pace to finish with 28 goals in 2024, which would be the most scored by a D.C. United in MLS play in club history by a significant margin. Raul Diaz Arce scored 23 in 1996, the inaugural MLS season, a mark which no D.C. United player has beaten.

Orlando City vs. Inter Miami lineups, team news

With a two-game week to navigate, it wasn't terribly surprising to see Tata Martino rest Lionel Messi on Wednesday, even in an in-state rivalry match. However, it does put his participation in this match in question as well, should he have a more tangible injury which has not been disclosed by the club.

At this point, it's believed that Messi was simply rested against Orlando City, which would mean he should return to the field here. In fact, it would appear the club has hinted as much in a recent social media post from gameday.

Diego Gomez could be nearing a return in the coming weeks from an ankle injury, but is out here, while Federico Redondo is also out but could be on his way back soon. Facundo Farias is out for the season with an ACL tear, while Ian Fray will be brought back slowly from his. Jordi Alba returns to the lineup from his multi-week injury.

Inter Miami starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Alba — Gressel, Busquets, Cremaschi — Messi, Suarez, Rojas.

Inter Miami subs (9): Dos Santos (GK), Kryvtsov, Allen, Negri, D. Ruiz, Bright, Taylor, Afonso, Campana.

Unlike Inter Miami with Lionel Messi, D.C. United has deployed 33-year-old striker Christian Benteke at every chance possible as he challenges for the league's Golden Boot award. After missing two games early in the season due to a slight injury, Benteke has played 897 out of a possible 900 minutes in league play over the last 10 matches.

Head coach Troy Lesesne has enjoyed a near fully fit squad to begin 2024. Former Inter Miami center-back Christopher McVey has found a new home at D.C. United and gets the start at the back, looking to keep his former teammate Messi out of net.

D.C. United starting lineup (3-5-2): 24. Bono (GK) — 97. McVey, 3. Bartlett, 15. Birnbaum — 22. Herrera, 8. Stroud, 25. Hopkins, 43. Klich, 7. Santos — 21. Ku-Dipietro, 20. Benteke.

D.C. United subs (8): Miller (GK), Tubbs, Peltola, Dajome, Pirani, M. Rodriguez, Fletcher, Murrell.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. DC United

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Author(s)
Kyle Bonn Photo
Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.