Lionel Messi and Inter Miami did not return to their winning ways in San Jose, but they avoided adding another loss to one of the worst stretches of the Messi era.
Tadeo Allende scored two goals, Maxi Falcon added another, and Inter Miami salvaged a 3-3 draw on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on May 14.
Messi was instrumental in Inter Miami’s comeback during the match despite being held scoreless. He orchestrated both of Allende’s goals, setting up the assists that led to them: Jordi Alba found Allende in the 44th minute, while rookie Baltasar Rodriguez found Allende in the 52nd minute to tie the match.
Messi received a yellow card after the final whistle from head referee Joe Dickerson. Messi argued a no-call on a tackle that could have led to a free kick in the final minutes of the match.
Dickerson told Messi: “Walk away now.”
The interaction occurred near midfield and was captured by the MLS Season Pass broadcast on Apple TV.
Messi had three chances in the final minutes to send adoring fans home with memories of him scoring a goal, but he was unable to convert.
Neither side scored in the final 40 minutes of the match despite a barrage of goals – five total scored during the first half, including goals scored by both sides in the first three minutes of action.
Falcon scored on an assist from Alba in the first minute, while San Jose’s Cristian Arango responded quickly in the third minute after a poor clearance by Inter Miami.
San Jose’s Beau Leroux (37’) and Ian Harkes (45’+4’) also scored for the home side – which is tied with Philadelphia (28) for most goals scored this season.
Still, the draw is a positive result for Inter Miami and first-year coach Javier Mascherano. They lost four of their five previous matches, and were outscored 14-9 during the stretch.
“We conceded a lot of goals and made a lot of mistakes. But we need to stay with the positive things. We fought until the end trying to win the game, and this is the way, in terms of spirit,” Mascherano said after the match.
Inter Miami is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 22 points after the draw, behind FC Cincinnati (28), Philadelphia (26), Columbus (26) and Nashville (23).
Inter Miami returns to action on MLS Sunday Night Soccer when they host in-state rival Orlando City on May 18 at 7 p.m. ET.
Inter Miami vs. San Jose highlights
Tadeo Allende scores goal: Inter Miami 3, San Jose 3
Messi to Baltasar Rodriguez to Tadeo Allende, and Inter Miami has evened the score again. Allende has scored two goals with superb finishes on assists from teammates, this one from Rodriguez – the 21-year-old Argentine making his MLS debut.
Messi misses free kick before halftime: San Jose 3, Inter Miami 2
Lionel Messi had a chance to end the first half with an exclamation point, but his free kick trailed right off the net before the halftime whistle. The chance was created when San Jose’s Vitor Costa was shown a yellow card for fouling Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende.
Ian Harkes scores goal before halftime: San Jose 3, Inter Miami 2
San Jose’s Ian Harkes scored with a left boot in first-half extra time (45’+4’), and Inter Miami finds itself in a deficit yet again.
Tadeo Allende scores goal: Inter Miami 2, San Jose 2
Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende has delivered a great finish to a goal to tie this match, but it doesn’t happen without their left-footed superstars. Lionel Messi found Jordi Alba streaking down the left side, and Alba delivered a perfect cross into the box for Allende to finish in the 44th minute. It’s the first goal by Allende since March 9.
Messi attempts header but misses: San Jose 2, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami has picked up the intensity offensively, with Messi even sending a header on goal, but he’s unable to convert in the 40th minute.
Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi also missed an opportunity to score in front of the net, with a poor finish on a pass from Tadeo Allende, one minute later.
Beau Leroux scores goal: San Jose 2, Inter Miami 1
San Jose rookie Beau Leroux has scored in the 37th minute to give the Earthquakes a 2-1 lead against Inter Miami after a sequence with zero defensive pressure.
Cristian Arango leaves match due to injury: San Jose 1, Inter Miami 1
Cristian Arango, San Jose’s leading goal scorer with eight this season, is walking off the pitch in the 26th minute after an apparent injury.
Arango is walking gingerly after grabbing the back of his left leg. San Jose will likely make a substitution.
Messi misses shot on goal: Inter Miami 1, San Jose 1
Messi dribbled down the pitch with a head of steam, dropped a pass off to Jordi Alba, and was unable to convert Alba’s pass back to him at the net.
Messi was just a bit wide left of the goal during the sequence in the 18th minute.
Cristian Arango scores goal: San Jose 1, Inter Miami 1
San Jose’s Cristian Arango has scored in the third minute in response, taking advantage of a poor pass by Inter Miami goalie Oscar Ustari to a teammate in the penalty area.
So much for that great start by Inter Miami.
Maxi Falcon scores goal: Inter Miami 1, San Jose 0
Inter Miami is on the board – before the first minute even passed in the game.
Jordi Alba sent a floater into the box, and defender Maxi Falcon scored on a header about 30 seconds into the match.
Quite a start for a club that has lost four of its last five matches in all competitions.
How to watch San Jose Earthquakes vs. Inter Miami live stream?
The match is available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Is Lionel Messi playing tonight in San Jose?
Yes, Messi was listed as a starter in Inter Miami’s lineup before the match.
What time is the San Jose vs. Inter Miami match today?
The match begins at 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT; 11:30 p.m. in Argentina).
Messi waves to fans outside San Jose hotel
Here’s video of Messi waving to fans outside Inter Miami’s team hotel this week in San Jose.
Messi scores goals vs. Minnesota and New York Red Bulls
Messi has scored a goal in each of his last two matches: A 4-1 win May 3 against the New York Red Bulls, and in a 4-1 loss May 10 to Minnesota United.
David Beckham calls for respect from Minnesota United
‘Pink phony club’ was the caption used by Minnesota with a photo of players celebrating the 4-1 win — in which star Lionel Messi scored the only goal for Inter Miami.
‘Show a little respect @mnufc be elegant in triumph,” Beckham said in a comment on the post.
First-year Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said: “We must know how to live with criticism, and how to benefit from it. There is constructive criticism that allows you to see things and make you think. And there is some that is not valuable, simply attack for the sake of attacking. In my case, I am used to it and most of the players also must live with this.”
Luis Suarez won’t play vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Messi will be missing his longtime running mate Luis Suarez — the Uruguayan star did not travel with the club for their two-game road trip due to personal reasons. It’s unclear whether veteran forward Fafa Picault will play against San Jose. He did not play against Minnesota due to a migraine.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
May 18: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, 7 p.m. ET
May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
Messi, Inter Miami schedule for Club World Cup
June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)