FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Defender Jordi Alba scored two minutes after Chicago pulled even in the second half to rally Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the Fire on Saturday night.
Rookie Matías Rojas scored for a fourth time this season to give Inter Miami (16-4-5) a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. Robert Taylor picked up his fourth assist and 20-year-old defender Tomás Avilés snagged his first of the season and the second of his two-year career on the goal. It was the seventh start and 10th appearance of the campaign for Rojas.
Miami was again without Lionel Messi after he suffered a ligament injury to his right ankle during Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa América final. However Messi, wearing a boot on his right foot, was in attendance at Chase Stadium and was honored on the field ahead of the game after picking up the 45th title of his career.
“Tonight we celebrate something we have never seen before and possibly will never see again,” Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said in addressing the crowd. “Tonight we celebrate a great milestone of our captain Leo Messi in becoming the footballer who has lifted the most trophies in the history of this sport.
“And I am sure he won’t stop at 45; we hope he can lift many more in the future.
“What Lionel Messi has as a leader is that he elevates everyone around him and is an example for the young players in the Inter Miami youth academy and an example for the future, of leadership and of a man who will be able to continue opening new chapters in football.”
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Chicago (6-12-7) trailed until defender Rafael Czichos used Gastón Giménez‘s third assist of the season in the 75th minute to score his first goal this season and the sixth in his three years in the league.
The tie lasted until Alba scored unassisted with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box in the 77th. It was the fourth goal this season for Alba and his fifth in 22 starts and 27 appearances in his two seasons with the club.
Drake Callender finished with four saves in goal for Inter Miami. Chris Brady stopped seven shots for the Fire. Callender needed to make just one save to keep the Fire off the scoreboard in the first half. Brady had four saves by halftime to keep Chicago close.
Chicago knocked FC Cincinnati out of the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield race with a 1-0 road victory on Wednesday.
Inter Miami is 2-4-1 all time versus the Fire.
The league goes on a month-long hiatus for the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami, which leads the league with 53 points at the break, will host FC Cincinnati on Aug. 24 when play resumes. The Fire will travel to play New York City FC on Aug. 24.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.