Messi scores first goal since father's death in a draw with Philadelphia

[p]The Argentine superstar gave [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Miami[/a] a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/inter-miami-0AheRyBg/philadelphia-union-Szrwix67/?mid=WSbPIfFa"]2-1[/a] lead in the 26th minute with a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner.[/p][p]After a restrained celebration with teammates, in which he allowed himself a brief smile, the Miami captain pointed his hands toward the sky over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-union/Szrwix67/"]Philadelphia[/a].[/p][embed guid="fec7e868-8017-4efb-ac64-38539be41713" url="https://x.com/brfootball/status/2090233217173389320?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] was instrumental in Miami's first goal just five minutes earlier as he picked up a run down the left flank from Uruguayan forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suarez-luis/fV4fAvB8/"]Luis Suarez[/a], who headed the ball across for a close-range finish by young American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pinter-daniel/Q7m4rxaB/"]Daniel Pinter[/a].[/p][p]The hosts secured a point thanks to goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vassilev-indiana/fN4YO08b/"]Indiana Vassilev[/a] in the 11th minute and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pierre-neil/OKp5atbT/"]Neil Pierre[/a] in the 58th.[/p][p]Messi, 39, moved into second place on the MLS scoring chart with 13 goals, one behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-dallas/4GtbI4Q1/"]FC Dallas[/a]' Croatian striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musa-petar/2JMpq78N/"]Petar Musa[/a].[/p][p]Miami's talisman had failed to find the net in the two matches played since he returned from Argentina after the death of his father, Jorge, on August 8th.[/p][p]In those two games, Miami lost 3-2 to Mexican side Leon to be eliminated from the Leagues Cup before enduring a 4-1 MLS defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nashville-sc/84yIDQMe/"]Nashville[/a] in which Messi missed a penalty.[/p][p]Miami have now gone four matches without a victory and are seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville.[/p][p]They beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-red-bulls/zV5YmQAr/"]New York Red Bulls[/a] 1-0 on Wednesday.[/p]