Inter Miami Edges Austin FC 2-1 In Thrilling MLS Clash

Inter Miami secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Austin FC in a heated MLS matchup Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium. The win keeps Miami's playoff hopes alive while dealing a blow to Austin's Western Conference standings.

The match is trending nationally after Lionel Messi delivered a stunning free-kick goal in the 78th minute to break the deadlock. The Argentine superstar's 12th goal of the season sparked wild celebrations among the sold-out crowd of 21,000 in Fort Lauderdale.

Austin FC opened scoring in the 34th minute through Sebastián Driussi's clinical finish. Miami equalized just before halftime when Robert Taylor capitalized on a defensive error. The physical match saw five yellow cards issued by referee Ted Unkel.

The result moves Inter Miami (4-2-3) into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while Austin FC (3-3-2) drops to seventh in the West. Both teams face quick turnarounds with midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup matches.

Social media erupted after the game, with Messi's goal video amassing over 2 million views in two hours. The match drew particular attention as Miami's first home game since March 16 due to international breaks.

Austin FC coach Josh Wolff criticized the officiating post-game, claiming his team "deserved at least a point." Miami's Tata Martino praised his squad's resilience after playing without injured striker Luis Suárez.

The match sets up an intriguing rematch when these teams meet again in Austin on June 15. MLS officials confirmed the league will review multiple controversial incidents from Saturday's clash.

With both clubs featuring high-profile international stars, the game drew an unusually large national TV audience for a regular-season MLS matchup. ESPN reported viewership peaked during Messi's decisive free kick.