Baltasar Rodriguez's second half strike salvaged a road point for Inter Miami, who were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Lionel Messi still absent.
A much-changed Miami struggled to open the game. Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were known absences due to injury, but Sergio Busquets, the ever-reliable midfield metronome, watched from the bench to start, as did Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The result was a Miami lacking in fluidity and suspect defensively.
D.C. United were good value for their opener, with youngster Jackson Hopkins reacting first to a loose ball before tucking home. Miami, for their part, created little, and failed to put a shot on target in the first half. They looked more dangerous after the break, though.
Rodriguez put a shot off the post. Noah Allen forced a full-stretch save. Rodriguez got the equalizer just after the hour mark, releasing a wonderful half-volley into the top corner from 25 yards out.
The home side might have won it, but Jacob Murrell saw his clever finish chalked off for a narrow offside. Miami, too, came close, with De Paul putting a free-kick off the post. But spoils were shared in the end, the Herons' attention inevitably turned to Wednesday's Leagues Cup semifinal clash.
GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Audi Field.
