Riquelme Fillipi's first goal for Inter Miami proved decisive as his 90th-minute equaliser salvaged Cristian Gonzalez's side a point in their 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati.
Inter Miami 2-2 FC Cincinnati: Filipi's late equaliser rescues a point for Messi and Co.
Inter Miami squandered a one-goal lead before Riquelme Fillipi netted a late leveller against FC Cincinnati to cap a frenetic ending.
Cincinnati seemed set to boost their playoff hopes when quickfire goals from Kenji Mboma Dem and Samuel Gidi cancelled out Luis Suarez's 61st-minute opener.
But Miami were saved by substitute Fillipi, with Cincinnati now looking nervously over their shoulders to secure their postseason spot, with Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC closing in with two matches of the regular season remaining.
Teenage Hadebe headed over an early chance for Cincinnati before Gidi put his body on the line to deny Lionel Messi as a tepid first half petered out at Nu Stadium.
Suarez spurned a glorious opportunity in the 55th minute as he dragged German Berterame's cutback just past the post, with the first shot on target coming on the hour when Rodrigo De Paul's drive from distance was beaten away by Roman Celentano.
And 67 seconds later, Miami found their breakthrough. De Paul's pass was cushioned into the path of Suarez by Casemiro, with the Uruguayan taking a touch before bending a superb effort in off the crossbar.
However, Cincinnati levelled with a stunner of their own in the 80th minute after Mboma Dem cut inside of Gonzalo Lujan and curled a glorious left-footed shot that just evaded the outstretched dive of Dayne St. Clair.
Pat Noonan's side then thought they had won it four minutes from time when Gidi picked out the bottom-left corner after being teed up by Tom Barlow on the edge of the box.
But Miami responded again on the stroke of full-time through Fillipi, who, just seven minutes after being brought on, made his way past Alvas Powell and bent his attempt into the bottom-right corner to seal a share of the spoils.
Cincinnati break Miami's record as Evander joins exclusive Messi club
In a game that often promises plenty of goals, the latest encounter between Miami and Cincinnati struggled to spark into life, with both sides only able to register an expected goals (xG) total of 0.39 between them during the first half (0.06 to 0.33).
But after the break, chances were aplenty as Suarez netted his fourth opening goal in an MLS match this season. He is hitting form at the right time, too, with this his sixth goal contribution (four goals, two assists) in his last four games at Nu Stadium.
Cincinnati captain Evander had to have his say, though. His assist for Mboma Dem's goal saw him join Messi as the only two players in MLS history to record at least 30 goal contributions in three different seasons.
The result also saw Cincinnati break an MLS record. They have now seen 139 goals across their league matches this season (66 scored, 73 conceded), breaking the single-season record for total goals in a season, an accolade previously held by Miami in 2025 (136).
