Baltasar Rodriguez scored in the 64th minute as Inter Miami — without injured superstar Lionel Messi — salvaged a 1-1 draw with D.C. United in their Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Saturday in Washington.
Miami (13-5-7, 46 points) was gunning for its third victory in eight days, including a 2-1 win over Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Jackson Hopkins scored in the 13th minute for United (4-15-9, 21 points), which extended its winless run in MLS to 11. The last United victory came on May 31.
It was the second straight draw for United, and came in the home debut of new coach Rene Weiler.
United was without its top scorer, Christian Benteke, who was serving a one-game suspension because of an accumulation of yellow cards.
In the midst of a busy schedule, Miami employed a makeshift starting line-up, with eight changes to its starting XI from its Leagues Cup win. The Herons next face Orlando City on Wednesday in a Leagues Cup semifinal.
Miami did not start any of its four ex-Barcelona players, Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, who have combined for 27 goals and 36 assists in the MLS this year.
Busquets and Suarez entered in the 55th and 63rd minute, respectively, and helped Miami control the flow the rest of the way. The Herons owned possession for 65.5 per cent of the match and had 11 crosses to one from United.
It was the second straight year that fans in the US capital were denied a chance to see Messi, who entered the day leading the MLS in goals with 19 in as many appearances. Messi also was sidelined with a hamstring injury when Miami won in Washington in March of last year.
Miami is 2-2-2 this season in MLS games Messi has missed.
Hopkins put United on top early when he one-touched a looping pass from Matti Pelota to his right, freeing himself for a right-footed blast from the middle of the penalty box, which was just inside the left post.
It was the second goal in the 21-year-old’s career, with his first coming a week ago in United’s 1-1 tie at CF Montreal.
Miami got the equaliser with a spectacular shot in the 64th minute. From outside the penalty box, Rodriguez fired a fading, right-footed strike into the top right corner.
It was Rodriguez’s first goal since he signed on loan from Argentine top-flight side Racing in March.
Published on Aug 24, 2025
