A sudden summer thunderstorm pushed back the kickoff at Lower.com Field, delaying the match by 40 minutes before play finally got underway.
Luis Suárez opened the scoring in the 16th minute, his seventh goal in the last four regular‑season appearances, giving Inter Miami an early lead.
Columbus answered quickly when an own‑goal by Miami’s defense slipped past the keeper, leveling the match before halftime.
Noah Allen restored the visitors’ advantage with a powerful header in first‑half stoppage time, putting Miami ahead 2‑1.
Messi’s MLS debut ends in frustration
The game changed again when Lionel Messi entered as a substitute in the 53rd minute, marking his first MLS appearance since the World Cup final.
Messi, still finding his rhythm, created several clear chances in the closing stages, but a combination of tight defending and wayward shots kept the ball out of the net.
In the 84th minute, Brais Méndez curled a free‑kick that struck the post and bounced in, snatching a 2‑2 equaliser on his MLS debut.
The draw ended Miami’s six‑game winning streak and left both sides with plenty to ponder as they head into the next round of fixtures.
Columbus will travel to North Carolina to face Charlotte on August 15, while Inter Miami is set to host Nashville the same night.