April 6, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Inter Miami CF News Release
Inter Miami CF (3V-2L-3D, 12 points) secured a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids tonight at Chase Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Captain Lionel Messi returned and scored the team’s first goal on the night, while Academy product and MLS SuperDraft pick Leo Afonso also scored to register his first goal for the Club’s First Team, in what was his first start for the team. Defenders Franco Negri and David Ruiz registered their first assists of the season in the matchup as well, with Negri playing his first match for the team since an injury sidelined him in June 2023.
Inter Miami started the match with seven changes to the team’s starting XI from the midweek Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals first leg. Drake Callender started in goal; David Ruiz, Ryan Sailor, Noah Allen and Franco Negri made a back line of four; Julian Gressel; Tomás Avilés and Lawson Sunderland started in midfield; Shanyder Borgelin and Afonso flanked striker Leonardo Campana in attack.
Recently signed Academy product Afonso registered his first start for the Inter Miami First Team tonight, while left back Negri and attacker Borgelin started for the first time this regular season. Additionally, midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi featured in a matchday squad for the first time in 2024 after recovering from surgery carried out in January to repair a sports hernia.
Match Action
The first 45 minutes presented an even matchup with both sides defending stoutly. Inter Miami’s most dangerous opportunities in attack throughout the half came through attempts from Avilés and Gressel. First, in the 17th minute, Afonso delivered a low cross into the center of the box after a great run on the right wing, with Avilés’ subsequent attempt going above the bar. Then, a long-range attempt from Gressel in the 35th minute went just wide of the left post.
It was the visitors, however, that would open the scoring before the half. The Colorado Rapids scored through a penalty taken by forward Rafael Navarro in the 45th minute and the match went into the break with a 0-1 scoreline.
Inter Miami then made a substitution at the half looking to create more danger in attack in the second half, with captain Messi coming onto the pitch in place of Sunderland to mark his return from injury.
Thirteen minutes later, Inter Miami was able to find the equalizer through a strike from Messi. In the 58th minute, Negri delivered a pass to the edge of…
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