MIAMI : Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s hopes of catching Eastern Conference leaders Nashville suffered a setback on Sunday as they were held to a 2-2 draw by San Diego FC.
Anders Dreyer scored twice for San Diego, including an equaliser in the 83rd minute, as Miami were denied victory despite dominating possession for long periods.
The draw left Miami 11 points behind Nashville with eight regular-season games remaining.
Dreyer put San Diego ahead after 12 minutes, racing onto a superb through ball from fellow Dane Jeppe Tverskov before lifting a delicate chip over Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Messi restored parity in the 24th minute with his 101st goal for Miami.
The Argentine curled a free kick from the edge of the area through a crowded six-yard box, with the ball clipping the inside of the post before finding the net.
Miami continued to apply pressure and Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul all had opportunities to put the hosts ahead.
Suarez eventually completed the comeback in the 74th minute, lashing the ball home after De Paul released the 39-year-old Uruguayan with a clever pass on the edge of the area.
But San Diego hit back six minutes later when Tverskov again found Dreyer with a precise pass over the top and the Dane calmly finished to make it 2-2.
San Diego almost snatched all three points in stoppage time, but St. Clair denied Kieran Sargeant’s effort on a counter-attack to preserve the draw.
