Inter Miami Triumphs Over Columbus Crew in Front of Record-Breaking Crowd
In a thrilling encounter that saw Benjamin Cremaschi shine, Inter Miami secured a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday. The match was a spectacle not just for the action on the field but also for the record-breaking attendance it drew.
The game was held at Huntington Bank Field, where a staggering 60,614 fans gathered, setting a new single-game record for a Crew home game. This turnout also marked the largest non-NFL event in the stadium’s history. The decision to move the match from Columbus to the home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns was largely influenced by the presence of Inter Miami’s superstar, Lionel Messi.
Since Messi’s arrival in MLS in 2023, Inter Miami has consistently drawn massive crowds on the road. This match marked the second time this season and the ninth overall that the team has played in front of a crowd of at least 60,000.
Reflecting on the atmosphere, Cremaschi said, “He’s the greatest player to play the sport. That’s why he attracts so many people to watch him. We’re playing away but sometimes we feel at home. I think everything goes away in the moment and we focus on our goal.”
The match was not just a draw for soccer fans but also attracted notable figures from other sports. Among the crowd were Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, center Tristan Thompson, and Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
With this victory, Inter Miami improved their record to 5-0-3, while Columbus dropped to 5-1-3. The match’s lone goal came in the 30th minute when Miami midfielder Marcelo Weigandt delivered a precise crossing pass into the box. Despite the close marking by Columbus defender Malte Amundsen, Cremaschi managed to connect with a diving header, sending the ball past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for his first goal of the season.
Cremaschi’s goal was particularly special as it was scored in front of Cleveland’s Dawg Pound section, which was filled with Crew supporters. “It was the only way to get to the ball,” Cremaschi explained about his diving effort.
This goal was also significant as it was the first in 277 minutes scored by a Miami player other than Messi. Messi himself had a chance to double the lead during stoppage time in the first half, but his shot from the top of the box went just wide to the left of the net.
There was a moment of concern towards the end of the game when Messi appeared to be moving gingerly. However, Miami coach Javier Mascherano assured that he was not aware of any issue with the 37-year-old star.
In a strategic move, fellow forward Luis Suárez was replaced by Telasco Segovia midway through the second half. Mascherano explained that the substitution was made with an eye on Thursday’s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
- “We decided to sub out Luis because I thought we needed to refresh,” Mascherano said in his postgame news conference.
- “Luis has been playing many minutes, and we wanted to have the ball more so we decided to involve Telasco Segovia and leave Messi loose.”
- “The idea was to do what we had to at that moment but also thinking about the fact that we have a game on Thursday.”
In the end, it was a memorable night for Inter Miami, not just for the victory but for the electric atmosphere and the continued impact of Messi on and off the field.
Originally Written by: ESPN
