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Speaker 1: Lionel Messi made his return to competitive club football for

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Inter Miami, coming off the bench as a second half

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substitute in a dramatic two to two draw against Eastern

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Conference contender's Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium. The thirty nine

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year old Argentine captain stepped onto the pitch just thirteen

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days after leading his national side through a grueling one

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hundred twenty minute battle against Spain in the twenty twenty

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six FIFA World Cup Final in New Jersey. Following a

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brief ten day period of rest and family recovery in Rosario,

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Messi rejoined training under Intern Miami head coach Giermo Oyos

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earlier in the week. While international teammate Rodrigo de Paul

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was named directly to the starting line up alongside recent

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marquee signing Case Moreau. Oyos opted to manage Messi's physical

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workload by naming the eight time Balloon do Or winner

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among the substitutes. Inter Miami sees the initiative early in

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front of a sellout crowd in Fort Lauderdale, Informed striker

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Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute, connecting

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on a cross to register his seventh goal in his

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last four outings. Columbus Crew drew level in the thirty

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fourth minute following an unfortunate own goal credited to case Moreau,

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but Miami restored their advantage deep in first half stoppage

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time when young defender Noah Allen capitalized on a loose

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ball inside the penalty box to send the hosts into

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the break with a two to one lead. The atmosphere

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inside Chase Stadium erupted in the fifty second minute when

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Messi removed his warm up bib and entered the match

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to replace German Birdraim, Operating in his accustomed floating playmaker role.

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The iconic forward wasted little time imposing his influence, completing

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thirteen accurate passes and recording four shots as Inter Miami

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pressed to extend their cushion. However, Columbus Crew struck back

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against the run of play in the eighty fourth minute,

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as Brace Mendez executed a precise curling finish past Miami

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goalkeeper Drake Kel to snatch a two to two equalizer.

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Despite dropping two points late in regulation, the draw keeps

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enter Miami atop the Eastern Conference standings as they maintain

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their push for the supporter's shield. Messi's successful return without

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physical complications provides a major boost for the Florida side

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as they shift focus to defense of their title in

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the upcoming League's Cup, beginning with a group stage opener

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against Lega MX side at Lettico San Luis.