Lionel Messi’s brilliance was cancelled out as Inter Miami fell to a 2-1 defeat against Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. A late capitulation, punctuated by Santiago Morales’ dismissal, allowed the hosts to snatch all three points in stoppage time.
Middlesbrough have finalized an agreement to sign U.S. men's national team and Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten. Sources told GOAL last week that the deal is worth up to $7.5 million. The move to the Championship club sees Arfsten link up with USMNT teammates Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris, both of whom are also Crew products.
Major League Soccer has been rocked by a burgeoning controversy surrounding Casemiro's move to Inter Miami, with the LA Galaxy claiming the Brazilian midfielder pledged his loyalty to them just months before heading to Florida. The league has officially opened an investigation into the transfer to determine if tampering or rules violations occurred during the process.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has returned to the matchday squad and is among the substitutes for the Herons’ Eastern Conference matchup against the Columbus Crew. Messi hasn’t appeared for the South Florida side since Argentina’s World Cup final defeat on July 19. His international teammate Rodrigo De Paul, however, has slotted straight into the starting XI.
Lionel Messi and Co. remain favorites, but strong starts from Nashville, San Jose and Vancouver have the league nicely poised heading into a long break.
Columbus have let go of head coach Henrik Rydstrom after the Swedish manager oversaw a run of just three wins in 14 games to open the season. Top assistant Laurent Courtois will step in as head coach, while two members of Rydstrom's backroom staff were also removed from their roles. Columbus are 13th in the Eastern Conference and have already lost seven games this season.
Red Bull New York academy product Julian Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick at 18 years and 50 days old, passing Ricardo Pepi’s previous mark of 18 years and 196 days. Hall now has nine goals and two assists this season, emerging as a major bright spot for a Red Bulls team that has found new life under first-year head coach Michael Bradley.
The 20-year-old was part of a resolute defensive display as The Fire, fuelled by a record-breaking start at Soldier Field, put in a resolute defensive display to protect their 1-0 lead to the final whistle. Afterwards, Mbokazi was singled out by both the coach and his goalkeeper for his efforts after only returning to the United States late on Friday after international duty with Bafana Bafana.
MLS has issued lifetime bans to Derick Jones and Yaw Yeboah for betting on games while they were playing, the league announced Monday afternoon. The duo bet on numerous games, including ones they were playing in, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and after an extensive investigation, have been prevented from playing in the league. Neither player is signed with an MLS club.
The 20-year-old started his third Major League Soccer match in a row and played well in keeping a clean sheet for his club. However, the centre back will have sleepless nights over a late chance that would have secured victory for his side.
When the 20-year-old moved from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire, it triggered a massive upsurge on the Chicago club's social media, which saw 180,000 followers join in the first 48 hours. That figure has since grown to over half a million South African social media accounts now following the club, making up a quarter of their entire online audience.
Matchday 2 of MLS brought a signature comeback win for Inter Miami, and a continuation of form for the Red Bulls. But it might be time to worry about Atlanta.
Columbus Crew
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