Messi’s late free kick goal sparks Inter Miami to rally for a 3-3 tie against Union

CHESTER Pa AP Lionel Messi gave Inter Miami a pep talk this week exhorting his MLS club to be more united than ever to get through a latest rough stretch Motivational speeches sometimes work Messi being Messi almost never fails Messi got a rise out of the crowd when he scored on a free kick late in the th minute to pull Inter Miami within one and had the assist on Telasco Segovia s tying goal in the th minute helping Inter Miami rally from a two-goal deficit to tie the Philadelphia Union - on Saturday night Messi the eight-time Ballon d Or winner and World Cup champion scored a crucial goal in his first competition since he challenged Inter Miami during a rare television interview to stick together after a loss against Orlando Inter Miami stuck together down the stretch to stun the Union Messi completely solved -year-old Union goalie Andrew Rick late in front of a packed house that came to watch one of soccer s greats and also to root on a Union company that came minutes away from its th win of the season Quinn Sullivan scored the first goal and Tai Baribo added two more to give him this season for the Union Tadeo Allende scored in the second half to make it - Inter Miami Messi buried a free kick late in the match for his sixth goal of the season that made it - and seemed like it could spark Inter Miami out of its funk Segovia took care of the rest for an Inter Miami organization that averaged only goals over its last games The only way to see the sun is to give everything Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano mentioned Messi brought out his share of fans in his second career MLS visit to Subaru Park though the Messi Mania from his visit was tamped down to Messi Mildness this time The pregame scene outside the stadium still saw fans in every beer hot dog and bathroom line in Messi jerseys and T-shirts ready to root on the World Cup champion from Argentina Unlike his first visit when tickets soared past on the secondary domain and season-ticket holders gleefully sold their inventory to make a profit on the season good seats Saturday were still available on the secondary area for less than a pop moments before kickoff Messi missed the trip to Chester last season because of international games with Argentina at Copa America Messi who turns in June received a mix of cheers and boos in his return when he was introduced then absolutely silenced the Union s famed Sons of Ben as the seconds ticked down Inter Miami needed the boost Messi s gang set an MLS record for best regular-season mark a year ago going - - finishing with the preponderance points and top winning percentage in league history The four regular-season losses tied a league mark for the fewest in a season But this season has looked nothing like last season We re coming off a period of bad results Messi recounted Apple TV after the Orlando meeting But we have to keep working and think about what s next With three or four games left in May we have to finish the best viable way to be able to face the Club World Cup That tournament starts June It s the next big event on Inter Miami s calendar and specific games will be played down the road at Lincoln Financial Field home of the Super Bowl champion Eagles Messi did not speak after the Union tie completely posting a collage of championship photos on social media The Union extend their unbeaten streak to nine matches in all competitions The Union are off to their best start to a season through games with points The club s previous best was points in matches back in Eagles star cornerback Cooper DeJean who became the first sportsman in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or sum a touchdown on his birthday struck the ceremonial pregame drum to get the festivities started Sullivan picked to attend the US men s national group camp next month and Baribo took it from there each scoring first-half goals against Miami s Oscar Ustari to keep the good times rolling for the hottest unit in MLS Because of Messi they wouldn t last We demonstrated our character our personality Mascherano noted