Inter Miami CF let a three-goal halftime lead slip away Saturday, settling for a 3-3 draw with Charlotte FC in the final match of the Major League Soccer regular season at home.
Miami scored three times in the first half. Ian Fray tapped in a deflected cross in the 14th minute, Luis Suárez doubled the lead in the 33rd, and Rodrigo De Paul added a long-range strike just before halftime. Charlotte had a first-half goal disallowed for handball after a video review.
The collapse started five minutes after the restart, when Charlotte pulled one back. The visitors scored again five minutes later, and then equalized in the 90th minute after a shot hit the post and bounced to a Charlotte attacker. Messi had a late chance to win it, but his left-footed shot also hit the post.
Miami still finished second in the Eastern Conference because Orlando City beat New England. The Herons will face the Columbus Crew in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, and the result adds to a season-long struggle to close out games.
