Despite missing star man Lionel Messi and having two men sent off, Inter Miami produced a sensational late winner to beat the Philadelphia Union.
David Beckham’s team are enjoying a brilliant season after their struggles of last year, and perhaps the best moment of the season came without their World Cup winner on the field.
While Messi is away with Argentina, Gerardo Martino’s team headed to Eastern Conference rivals Philly, and what could have been a disaster turned into a night to remember – especially for one rookie.
Leo Afonso, who has only recently been promoted to the first team after graduating from the academy set-up, became the match-winner in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time to stun the home crowd.
His first goal for the team came on a night with Messi and Luis Suarez missing from the Miami lineup ahead of Copa America.
Leo Afonso wheels away in celebration after sealing a stoppage-time winner for Inter Miami
It was a night to remember for the league leaders, despite the absence of Lionel Messi
Miami also saw David Ruiz and Tomas Aviles each sent off in the second half as both were shown their second yellow cards.
Union, meanwhile, have now lost seven straight games at home – a run stretching back to March 30.
Missing leading scorers Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza, the Union opened the scoring in the third minute. Mikael Uhre got on the end of a ball from Jakob Glesnes, beat his defender, and fired it past Drake Callender for his sixth goal of the season.
The Union sought to double their lead in the 13th minute as Quinn Sullivan was put through, but he could only fire wide of the target.
Messi is currently on international duty with Argentina ahead of Copa America next week
Inter Miami received two red cards in Philadelphia, but still walked away with all three points
Without Messi and Suarez, Miami initially struggled to find a flow offensively, not being credited with a shot on goal — or a single shot, for that matter — until the 39th minute.
But the breakthrough came in the 47th minute as Julian Gressel ripped a right-footed effort past Oliver Semmle for his first goal of the season, tying the match at 1-1.
After seeing their ranks reduced to nine men — first as David Ruiz was shown his second yellow card in the 69th minute before Tomas Aviles picked up his own second caution in the 88th minute — Miami found an improbable winner through Afonso, snapping a brief two-match winless run in the process.
The victory sees Inter Miami extend their lead at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, with 11 wins from their first 19 games of the season.
