Inter Miami secured their spot in the Columbus Crew draw, while their rivals hold their breath in anticipation.
Inter Miami drew 2-2 with Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, securing second place with 38 points and a spot in the Round of 16; Columbus Crew finished 10th with 20 points and their qualification is yet to be decided.
- 0'The match has started.
Inter Miami hosts Columbus Crew.
- 12'The game was evenly balanced after 12 minutes.
At the 12th minute, Inter Miami and Columbus Crew were still tied 0-0 in a closely contested match. With possession at 50-50, neither team had gained a clear advantage, and the pace of the game remained fairly balanced.
- 16'Luis Suárez opened the scoring for Inter Miami.
In the 16th minute, Luis Suárez scored after an assist from Yannick Bright, giving Inter Miami the lead. If they maintained this score, Inter Miami would be guaranteed a top 2 finish and a place in the round of 16, while Columbus Crew would still have to wait for the group stage to conclude.
- 26'The match remained evenly contested after 26 minutes.
At the 26th minute, Inter Miami and Columbus Crew were still tied 0-0 in a closely contested match, with possession evenly split 50-50. Neither side had yet established a clear advantage.
- 34'Casemiro's own goal gives Columbus Crew the equalizer.
In the 34th minute, Casemiro (Inter Miami) scored an own goal, allowing Columbus Crew to equalize 1-1. The game returned to a balanced state after Inter Miami took the lead.
- 38'Inter Miami had the edge, Columbus was sharper.
In the 38th minute, Inter Miami had a slight advantage in ball possession with 53-47, but Columbus Crew had more shots on goal, 3-4. The game was fairly evenly matched, with the home team holding possession while the visitors showed more sharpness in their attacking moves.
- 45+5'Noah Allen puts Inter Miami ahead.
In the 45th minute and 5+5, Noah Allen scored after an assist from Luis Suárez, putting Inter Miami ahead 2-1. VAR confirmed the goal, bringing a dramatic first half to a close.
- 45+6'VAR confirms Noah Allen's goal.
In the 45th minute and 6th second, VAR checked for offside and confirmed Noah Allen's goal, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead over Columbus Crew. Maintaining this scoreline would secure Inter Miami a place in the top two of the group.
- 45'End of the first half
At the end of the first half, the score was 2-1.
- 46'The second half has begun.
The second half has begun.
- 51'Columbus Crew took the lead after halftime.
In the 51st minute, Columbus Crew had a slight advantage in possession (48-52) and shots on goal (3-4), putting Inter Miami under slight pressure despite still leading 2-1. However, the quality of their chances wasn't superior, with only 1 shot on target.
- 53'Messi came on in the 53rd minute.
In the 53rd minute, Lionel Messi came on as a substitute for Dániel Pintér. Messi's appearance was a notable highlight in the second half, as Inter Miami was leading Columbus Crew.
- 61'Bangoura came on in the 61st minute.
In the 61st minute, Sekou Tidiany Bangoura came on as a substitute for Dylan Chambost.
- 62'Brais Méndez comes on to replace Dániel Gazdag
In the 62nd minute, Brais Méndez came on as a substitute for Dániel Gazdag when Inter Miami were leading Columbus Crew 2-1. The home team continued to maintain their advantage as the match entered its decisive phase.
- 63'Inter Miami were sharp despite having little possession.
63rd minuteColumbus Crew had a slight advantage in ball possession.48 - 52but Inter Miami was the team that created more threatening chances.7 - 6shots, including one that hit the target.3 - 1The home team is leading and maintaining pressure through corner kicks.3 - 1.
- 72'Lautaro Giaccone came on in the 72nd minute.
In the 72nd minute, Lautaro Giaccone came on as a substitute for Hugo Picard. Inter Miami were leading 2-1, and this substitution could help the home team maintain their advantage for the remainder of the match.
- 74'Sekou Tidiany Bangoura received a yellow card.
In the 74th minute, Sekou Tidiany Bangoura received a yellow card after a foul. Inter Miami was still leading Columbus Crew, but there was still plenty of time to change the course of the game.
- 75'David Ayala came on in the 75th minute.
In the 75th minute, David Ayala came on as a substitute for Yannick Bright. Inter Miami were defending their 2-1 lead against Columbus Crew.
- 75'Inter Miami made a substitution in the 75th minute.
In the 75th minute, David Ruíz came on as a substitute for Facundo Mura, with Inter Miami leading Columbus Crew 2-1. This was a notable substitution as the game entered its crucial stages.
- 75'Columbus Crew gained the upper hand, while Inter Miami defended.
At the 75th minute, Inter Miami was still leading 2-1 but was under pressure as Columbus Crew had a slight advantage in possession, with a ratio of 47-53. The visiting team also had more shots (7-9), although Inter Miami maintained greater sharpness on target, with a 3-2 record.
- 82'Casemiro received a yellow card in the 82nd minute.
In the 82nd minute, Casemiro received a yellow card while Inter Miami was leading Columbus Crew. This card meant Casemiro had to be more cautious in the final minutes of the match.
- 84'Brais Méndez helped Columbus Crew equalize the score.
In the 84th minute, Brais Méndez scored, leveling the score at 2-2 against Inter Miami for Columbus Crew. If this scoreline holds, Inter Miami will still be guaranteed a place in the Round of 16, while Columbus Crew will have to wait for the final results of their group.
- 86'Brooks Lennon came on in the 86th minute.
In the 86th minute, Brooks Lennon came on as a substitute for Jamal Thiaré, with Inter Miami and Columbus Crew tied 2-2. The match entered its final minutes with the game still wide open.
- 86'Preston Palmbeck came on in the 86th minute.
In the 86th minute, Preston Plambeck came on as a substitute for Mateo Silvetti. Inter Miami and Columbus Crew were tied 2-2, promising a tense final few minutes.
- 87'Columbus Crew put pressure on the opponent in the final minutes of the game.
In the 87th minute, Columbus Crew were showing slightly more pressure despite a 50-50 possession balance: the visitors had 13 shots compared to Inter Miami's 7. However, accuracy remained equal with 3-3 on target, leaving the 2-2 draw still undecided.
- 90+5'Patrick Schulte received a yellow card in the 90+5th minute.
In the 90+5th minute, Patrick Schulte received a yellow card. Inter Miami and Columbus Crew were tied 2-2, making the final minutes even more tense.
- KTFinal score: Inter Miami 2-2 Columbus Crew
The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Updated at 09:13 on August 2, 2026
Match information
Inter Miami will host Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium at 6:30 AM on August 2nd, 2026, in an MLS match. This is a clash between the team currently ranked 2nd with 37 points and their opponent ranked 11th, with 19 points.
The gap in the standings is an important part of the game's context, but the pressure doesn't just come from their current position. Inter Miami also boasts a perfect run of form in their last five games, while Columbus Crew has yet to maintain similar consistency.
Inter Miami has a superior form.
Inter Miami has won all five of their most recent matches. This winning streak shows that the home team is maintaining high levels of consistency ahead of their match against Columbus Crew, creating a favorable psychological state as they head into a crucial game in the race for the top spots.
The most noteworthy aspect lies in the consistency of their form. Inter Miami not only has one positive result but is currently on a five-game winning streak. With the home advantage at Chase Stadium, the team has the potential to dictate the pace of the game and force opponents to adapt their tactics.
However, a winning streak doesn't mean the game will be easy. Columbus Crew still has the potential to cause Inter Miami difficulties if the visitors maintain their defensive solidity and make good use of their transitional opportunities.
Columbus Crew needs to find stability again.
Columbus Crew's form in their last five matches consists of two wins, one draw, and two losses. This reflects a team capable of achieving positive results, but lacking a solid foundation to sustain consistent progress.
The biggest challenge for Columbus Crew is playing away against an opponent on a five-game winning streak. In this context, the visiting team needs to prioritize a balance between defense and offense, avoiding a back-and-forth game where Inter Miami controls the pace.
Two wins in their last five matches show that Columbus Crew are capable of making a difference. However, two losses and one draw during the same period also indicate considerable inconsistency. If they don't maintain consistent focus, the visitors could struggle against a more stable Inter Miami side.
The head-to-head history heavily favors Inter Miami.
In their last four encounters, Inter Miami won all four matches, while Columbus Crew neither won nor drew. This trend gives the home team an added psychological advantage before kick-off.
Head-to-head records don't completely determine the outcome of a match, but the dominance in the last four encounters is noteworthy. Columbus Crew will have to break a losing streak while also finding a way to limit Inter Miami's influence, especially given their current superior form.
The battle between control and resilience.
With home advantage, second place in the standings, and a five-game winning streak, Inter Miami will likely aim to control the game from the start. A suitable approach for the home team would be to maintain pressure, patiently circulate the ball, and avoid being overwhelmed by impatience in the early minutes.
Conversely, Columbus Crew needs to organize their formation efficiently to minimize the space between the lines. When facing an opponent in excellent form, maintaining positional awareness and minimizing mistakes will be just as important as creating attacking opportunities.
The game could be decided by how both teams handle transitional moments. Inter Miami has the advantage of confidence and consistency, while Columbus Crew needs to convert counter-attacks into real opportunities instead of letting the game drag on in their favor.
Pre-match analysis
Inter Miami entered the match with several clear advantages: second place with 37 points, a five-game winning streak, home advantage, and a record of winning all four of their most recent encounters with Columbus Crew. This strong foundation allowed the home team to be considered the favorites.
Columbus Crew still have reason to be hopeful if they maintain their defensive solidity and make good use of the rare opportunities they have. However, their inconsistent form and the 18-point gap in the standings make the task more difficult for the visitors.
Overall, Inter Miami holds the advantage in terms of form, position, and head-to-head confidence. Columbus Crew needs a disciplined performance to steer the game away from its usual trajectory, while the home team will be looking to continue their positive run of results against this opponent.
*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
