CHICAGO — Midfielder Casemiro headed home a corner kick from captain Leo Messi in the 48th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw for Inter Miami CF against Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field, extending his scoring streak to three consecutive matches.
The goal was Casemiro’s third of the campaign and erased a deficit created by Robert Lewandowski, who opened the scoring for Chicago in the 10th minute. Messi’s delivery on the corner was his 13th assist of the season, keeping him atop the MLS assist leaderboard.
Inter Miami (12W-4L-8D, 44 points) dominated possession at 54% to Chicago’s 46% and outshot the hosts 20-9, but Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady turned aside six saves to keep the match level. Efforts from Germán Berterame and Messi were denied by Brady in the first half to preserve Chicago’s 1-0 lead at the break.
Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made two saves in the second half to preserve the point for Inter Miami, which pressed for a winner but could not break through again. The back four of Ian Fray, Casemiro, Maximiliano Falcón and Fricio Caicedo held firm after the equalizer, while Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright and Telasco Segovia controlled the midfield. Luis Suárez joined Messi and Berterame in the attacking line.
Chicago committed 16 fouls to Inter Miami’s 14, and the visitors earned five corners to the hosts’ two — numbers that reflected the South Florida club’s sustained pressure throughout the match.
Inter Miami returns home to face Nashville SC at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Nu Stadium.