Messi returns, but Campana plays hero (with only goal) as Inter Miami edges D.C. United
Lionel Messi returned for Inter Miami on Saturday, but it was a different designated player who made the difference late in a tight tussle with D.C. United.
Leonardo Campana came off the bench in unexpected fashion and provided a thunderous 94th-minute winner for Inter Miami in a 1-0 victory over a determined and disciplined D.C. United at a wet Chase Stadium on Saturday night.
Inter Miami had used all three substitution windows in the second half, but Campana was allowed to play per league rules due to an extra window being granted to both teams due to a concussion protocol that was triggered when D.C. United substitute Martin Rodriguez took a hit to the head that forced him out of the game.
Campana took full advantage of his surprise opportunity, latching onto a long pass over the top from Sergio Busquets before blasting a half volley off the underside of the crossbar with a first touch of the ball that sent the home crowd into a euphoric celebration.
“It was one of those substitutions that you make to see if what happened today ends up happening,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said. “When a team is in a good way, anything that it does can lead to winning a game and that is what happened today.
“If there had been no concussion, he would not have entered the game.”
The dramatic win kept Inter Miami unbeaten in a ninth consecutive league game and the team back in first place of the Eastern Conference with 31 points via a 9-4-2 record.
FC Cincinnati had temporarily leapfrogged Inter Miami earlier in the day following a 3-1 win against St Louis City, but Inter Miami reclaimed the top spot with the narrow triumph.
“I am not one to normally [celebrate a goal like that], but there are so many things that go through your head,” said Campana, who ecstatically took off his shirt after delivering the winner. “Things like hours of work, bad nights, frustrations, but I thank God, my family, and my girlfriend for pushing me to not give up and continue doing what I like to do.”
Messi was slotted back into the Inter Miami starting lineup against D.C. United after missing Wednesday’s scoreless road tie with rival Orlando City due to a sore knee. The Argentine was unable to produce any of his customary magic in the final third of a match that had its kickoff delayed by 25 minutes due to lightning striking in the area.
Inter Miami team dominated possession from start to finish against D.C. United while failing to capitalize on many quality scoring chances.
Inter Miami finished the match with two shots on target on 67 percent possession.
“The win is a byproduct of an individuality. [Campana] scored a goal that was more fitting of a different game,” Martino said. “… I thought a draw would have been fair because D.C. United did not create much and neither did we. I thought a 0-0 draw was how this game should have ended.”
Homegrown player and midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi had a quality look to break the deadlock for the Herons in the 43rd minute after finding himself 1-on-1 on the right side of the penalty area, but his shot was inaccurate as it hit sprawling D.C. United goalkeeper Alex Bono in the torso.
It looked like high-octane Inter Miami was going to be held scoreless for the second straight match, but Campana made sure that was not the case with his right-footed blast that marked his third goal of the season.
“The win is a byproduct of an individuality. (Campana) scored a goal that was more fitting of a different game,” Martino said. “… I thought a draw would have been fair because D.C. United did not create much and neither did we. I thought a 0-0 draw was how this game should have ended.”
Messi, Campana and Inter Miami next hit the road, taking a cross-country flight to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 25.
This story was originally published May 18, 2024 at 11:09 PM.