Jamal Thiaré nets stoppage-time winner as Columbus Crew rally to beat Inter Miami 2-1

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

A dramatic late rally delivered a vital result for the Columbus Crew on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire, with Jamal Thiaré scoring in the 98th minute to lift Columbus to a 2-1 win over Inter Miami CF. The outcome came after Inter Miami struck first and Lionel Messi responded for Miami with a standout free kick, setting the stage for Thiaré’s decisive finish in stoppage time.

Columbus and Inter Miami met at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, where a record crowd of 21,188 watched the match unfold. Inter Miami opened the scoring when Josef Martínez converted a 28th-minute penalty kick, giving the visitors an early lead. Five minutes later, Messi erased that deficit by scoring a spectacular free kick, levelling the game and turning the match into a tight contest late in the evening.

Momentum shifted again with the match entering its final moments, and Thiaré ultimately provided the Crew the winner. According to the official MLS match reporting, Thiaré scored in the 98th minute to complete Columbus’s comeback and secure the full three points.

Thiaré described the purpose behind his performance after the match, saying, “I want to just help my team,” during an interview on Apple TV. He added that his focus was on bringing energy because the team “work[s] really hard during the week,” and that the result “happen[ed] tonight.” Thiaré also acknowledged the role of Columbus supporters, stating, “I’m so happy, and I would like to say this for the fans: they continue to come every night. We need them, and we know what we can do with them.”

For Columbus, the victory carried immediate playoff significance within the Eastern Conference. MLS reporting said the Crew’s Matchday 28 dramatics resulted in consecutive league wins for only the second time this season. The win also moved Columbus to within four points of ninth-place New York City FC, a position described as aligning with Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs positioning.

Interim head coach Laurent Courtois emphasized the importance of both execution and timing after the match. He said it was “important, especially before a mini break, to have not only the performance but the key moments and also the three points,” and added, “I am really pleased that we had that.”

The Crew’s late-season push now includes both league momentum and a high-stakes cup opportunity. In addition to the league win over Inter Miami, MLS reporting said Columbus will host St. Louis CITY SC in the US Open Cup final on Oct. 21. The timing matters as Columbus prepares for a mini break, with the win over Miami coming just before that scheduled pause.

Columbus also will remain active on the regular-season calendar. MLS reporting said the Crew’s next match is a trip to face Antoine Griezmann and Orlando City on Oct. 10, with kickoff listed at 7:30 pm ET on Apple TV.

For Inter Miami, the setback comes despite Messi’s equalizer, which was described as one of his best goals, delivered via free kick after Martínez’s early penalty goal. Even so, the match ultimately turned on Columbus’s ability to convert late opportunities, culminating in Thiaré’s stoppage-time winner.

As the regular season moves forward, the result tightens the Eastern Conference playoff picture. With Columbus drawing closer to the playoff threshold, Sunday’s comeback win reinforced the Crew’s ability to produce decisive moments when games reach their closing stretch, while raising the stakes for their upcoming league match and their US Open Cup final hosting assignment against St. Louis CITY SC.