Leonardo Campana’s Late Stunner Secures Victory for Inter Miami over D.C. United

Leonardo Campana (23) came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 victory over D.C. United in Major League Soccer on Saturday. Despite Lionel Messi’s return to the starting lineup after missing the 0-0 draw at Orlando on Wednesday, Miami struggled to break down D.C. United’s well-organized defense.

Ecuadorian striker Campana, who lost his starting spot to Luis Suarez this season, was subbed in during the third minute of stoppage time and scored with his first touch. Campana made a swift diagonal run across D.C.’s back line and received a lofted pass from Sergio Busquets, then fired an unstoppable shot past Alex Bono.

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It was a tough end for Troy Lesesne’s team, which has shown significant improvement compared to their performances under Wayne Rooney last season. With this win, league leaders Miami secured their ninth victory of the season, matching their total from last season in just 15 games.

The game was delayed by 25 minutes due to lightning, and a torrential downpour started 15 minutes after kickoff. Miami dominated possession in the first half, while D.C. United focused on maintaining their shape and counterattacking.

This strategy nearly paid off after the break, but Jared Stroud missed a close-range opportunity. Messi, who had been limited to two free-kick attempts that hit the wall, was not at his best, likely due to a knee injury that kept him out of the midweek game.

D.C. United grew into the game, with Matti Peltola narrowly missing a shot in the 69th minute. Two minutes later, Messi controlled a high ball with his chest but shot over the bar. United had another chance to win in the final moments, but Cristian Dajome’s weak shot was saved by Drake Callender.

Campana’s late goal extended Miami’s unbeaten run to nine games on a night where Gerardo Martino’s team struggled. Campana’s entry was allowed due to a concussion substitution for D.C., enabling Miami coach Gerardo Martino to make one more change. Martino admitted his team barely deserved the win.

“I think this game should have been a 0-0 draw. We weren’t sharp, but I don’t want to take away from all the good things the opposition did defensively… we weren’t good in our build-up play,” he said. “The win was the result of individual brilliance. A minute earlier, Drake had saved us, and we could have lost. We were very sluggish, lacking dynamism in our movement,” the Argentine coach added.

In the “Hudson River derby,” New York City FC defeated the New York Red Bulls at Citi Field with Algerian Mounsef Bakrar scoring the 64th-minute winner. Italy international Federico Bernardeschi netted a hat-trick for Toronto FC, crushing Montreal 5-1 in their all-Canadian clash.

Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, and Jacen Russell-Rowe scored for defending champions Columbus Crew, securing a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake came from behind to win 5-3 against the Colorado Rapids, scoring three late goals in the Rocky Mountain derby.

Hungary international Daniel Gazdag scored twice for the Philadelphia Union in their 3-0 win over the New England Revolution. Phil Neville’s Portland woes continued as his team suffered their seventh loss in 14 games, losing 2-1 at Minnesota despite initially leading. The home side, managed by former Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay, won after an 82nd-minute goal from South Korean Jeong Sang-bin.