Inter Miami 3-3 Charlotte FC: Messi and co let three-goal lead slip on final matchday

Inter Miami let a three-goal lead slip as they ended the MLS regular season with a 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC, though they still finished second in the Eastern Conference.

Neither team had much at stake on Decision Day, with both being assured of their places in the postseason, and that gave way to a chaotic contest.

A first-half blitz from Ian Fray, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul looked to have wrapped up the points for Miami, but Liel Abada's quickfire brace introduced some jeopardy early in the second half, and substitute Rodolfo Aloko hit a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser for Charlotte.

Fray was heavily involved early on, with a handball decision ensuring his wayward header did not gift Abada a fifth-minute opener, before the Jamaican took advantage of a ricochet off Luca de la Torre to strike at the other end nine minutes later.

Lionel Messi then drew a good stop from Kristijan Kahlina before playing his part in the build up to Miami's 33rd-minute second. His inswinging corner was glanced on by Germán Berterame, and Suárez could not miss at the far post.

Miami were then in cruise control after De Paul was given too much time 30 yards from goal, with his sweet strike sailing through a crowd of bodies and into the net.

But the Herons contrived to throw two points away after the interval. Charlotte pulled a goal back as Liel Abada turned Tyger Smalls' centre home, only five minutes after the latter was introduced as a half-time substitute.

It was 3-2 within five further minutes, with Abada neatly exchanging passes with Pep Biel before finding the far corner, though Messi almost killed Charlotte's hopes of a fightback when his dink was cleared off the line by Henry Kessler soon afterwards.

And Miami were the masters of their own downfall seconds from the end of regulation time, as Micael's poor defensive header found Smalls. His volley crashed off the post, but Aloko was well-placed to steer the rebound into the empty net.

Messi curled against the post two minutes into stoppage time as Miami went within inches of a winner, though they will still be the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, after the New England Revolution lost 1-0 to Orlando City and finished third.

Orlando will have to beat FC Cincinnati in a play-in tie, though, after the Columbus Crew took the final automatic spot with a dramatic 4-3 success over the Chicago Fire, following a 93rd-minute winner from Brais Méndez.

Chicago will be the fourth seeds, having finished a point above Charlotte, while history was made at TQL Stadium, as Nashville SC's 2-0 win over Cincinnati set a new single-season MLS points record.

Nashville's total of 77 points in 2026 is the highest in the competition's history, surpassing Miami's 2024 mark of 74, while B.J. Callaghan's side also set new records for most wins (23) and fewest losses (three) in a campaign.

Miami pegged back again

There were no real postseason implications riding on this game, for either Miami or Charlotte.

And even letting Charlotte back into the contest, Miami still finished second in the East to tee up a first-round tie with the Columbus Crew in the postseason.

However, the sight of the Herons letting a three-goal lead slip will be a serious concern for Kily González, particularly as Miami have already done so once this year, also at Nu Stadium in a 4-3 defeat to Orlando in May.

And, should Miami go all the way to the MLS Cup final and meet the Vancouver Whitecaps in a repeat of last year's showpiece, they would have to go on the road, as the Caps' 2-0 win at CF Montréal on Saturday confirmed their spot as the overall No.2 seed for the postseason, behind Nashville.

Charlotte, meanwhile, will face Chicago in the playoffs, with the head-to-head record between those teams split perfectly at 5-5, albeit the last four matchups have all been won by the Fire.