Inter Miami Snatches Point in Thrilling 3-3 Draw with San Jose

Lionel Messi came close to scoring the winner, but Inter Miami settled for a 3-3 draw with San Jose Earthquakes in a thrilling MLS match.

Inter Miami secured a thrilling 3-3 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes, thanks to a nail-biting finish. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,000 fans eager to see Lionel Messi in action in the Bay Area since joining MLS.

The Florida-based team got off to a blistering start, with Maximiliano Falcon scoring just 35 seconds into the game. Falcon headed home a precise cross from Jordi Alba following a corner kick. Despite the strong start, Inter Miami struggled to maintain their lead, ultimately allowing San Jose Earthquakes to push the game to a draw.

Match Highlights:

Goalscorers for Inter Miami:

• Maximiliano Falcon: Scored the opening goal in the 1st minute
• Tadeo Allende: Scored a brace (44th and 52nd minute)

Goalscorers for San Jose Earthquakes:

• Cristian Arango: Scored in the 3rd minute
• Beau Leroux: Scored in the 37th minute
• Ian Harkes: Scored in the 45th minute of stoppage time

Lionel Messi, who was instrumental in the team's performance, nearly scored the decisive goal but came up short. The draw showcases Inter Miami's resilience, even if Messi wasn't on the scoresheet this time. After the final whistle, Messi got into a heated discussion with the referee, Joe Dickerson, over a missed call near the San Jose box in the final minutes, which led to him receiving a yellow card.

Termina el partido en California. pic.twitter.com/XdyuOKbgCF

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 15, 2025

The visitors' early joy was short-lived, as Cristian Arango equalized for San Jose just two minutes later with a precise finish following a swift counter-attack.

The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute through Beau Leroux. However, Inter Miami responded before halftime, with Tadeo Allende scoring in the 44th minute after a swift team move.

The Earthquakes extended their lead just before halftime, with Ian Harkes scoring a powerful shot from distance, assisted by Beau Leroux, making it 3-2 in favor of San Jose at the break.

Inter Miami leveled the score again in the 52nd minute, with Tadeo Allende completing his brace after a well-worked team move involving Lionel Messi and Baltasar Rodriguez. The match ended in thrilling fashion, with Messi coming close to scoring the winner in stoppage time, only to be denied by a spectacular block from goalkeeper Daniel.

The draw extended Inter Miami's struggles, with the team conceding at least three goals in three of their last four matches. Meanwhile, San Jose maintained their unbeaten streak, going three MLS games without a loss.