In continuation of a poor string of results, the Columbus Crew was embarrassed by Inter Miami away from home Saturday night, conceding five goals and only managing to score once in a match that saw them look out of sorts and desperate for answers in attack. The Black & Gold fell victim to their Messi-led Eastern Conference rivals for a second time this season, this time against a Miami side that in its previous five matches had conceded 15 goals and only recorded one win. The defeat extends the Crew’s winless streak to six matches, with four draws and two losses in that span.

In the 9th minute of the match, Malte Amundsen was forced off due to injury. The Black & Gold defender appeared to feel discomfort in his leg after two important defensive interventions in the opening 10 minutes. Cesar Ruvulcaba replaced Amundsen in Wilfriend Nancy’s back three. 

An unsuspecting free kick just behind the halfway line led to Miami’s opening goal in the 13th minute. Sergio Busquets played the free kick short to Messi at the halfway line, seemingly far from danger. But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner immediately played the ball over the top to a sprinting Tadeo Allende into the 18-yard box. Allende let the ball bounce as he continued his run before slicing it on the volley into the left bottom corner of the net. 

Miami doubled its lead two minutes later due to an error from Nicholas Hagen. After intercepting a pass from Messi, Max Arfsten played the ball back to Hagen, signaling a change in possession and control shifting back in the Black & Gold’s favor. But under the pressure of Benjamin Cremaschi, Hagen hesitated in his decision-making with the ball at his feet. After faking a pass, Hagen opted to clear the ball, but his left-footed kick was almost guided directly to Messi. He took one touch to control the ball with his chest, and another to try to chip the goalkeeper. Hagen rose and got one glove to the ball, but his deflection failed to redirect the shot as it bounced over the line and into the goal. 

To cap off a statement first half performance, Messi scored Miami’s third and his second goal of the night in spectacular fashion. Similarly to Messi’s assist for the opening goal, this time it was Busquets who played a lobbed pass over the Crew defence from nearly the same position. Messi timed his run well, sneaking past Ruvulcaba to meet the ball in its path before once again chipping the ball over Hagen, this time not letting the goalkeeper get his glove to the ball.

The only Crew highlight of the half came from Hagen in the 45th minute. Luis Suarez received the ball from Allende in the 18-yard box and took a touch to open up space in a threatening position. He struck a powerful right-footed shot low and left, but Hagen’s diving reflex pushed the ball outward for a corner. 

In the 58th minute, the Black & Gold got one back to momentarily lower the deficit. Ruvulcaba rose above Maximiliano Falcon to meet Dyaln Chambost’s corner kick with his head, thumping the ball past Oscar Ustari into the net from nearly 10 yards out. The goal marked Ruvulcaba’s first-ever MLS goal in seven total appearances.

If there was any hope of a Crew comeback, it was thwarted in the 64th minute as Inter Miami’s attack combined for the team’s fourth goal of the night. An intricate passing play akin to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in years past saw Messi complete a give-and-go pass with Marcelo Weigandt before laying the ball off to Telasco Segovia, who snuck the ball left to a wide-open Suarez, with the veteran striker showcasing his experience as he tucked the ball firmly left of Hagen in a tight space. 

To cap off a devastating evening for the Black & Gold, Fabrice Picault scored a fifth for Miami in the 89th minute. Messi was the catalyst, threading a one-touch through ball from 70 yards out between a cluster of Crew defenders to find Picault with acres of space and only Hagen to beat. Picault slotted the ball right of Hagen just past his reach to mark the first time that a Wilfried Nancy-led Crew side had ever conceded five goals in a match

A result like this to a strong league rival is a huge blow, especially considering the Black & Gold’s recent uninspiring run of form and losing Amundsen early to injury, but remarkably, it is only the team’s third loss of the season, tied for the second-fewest losses in all of MLS. It highlights the gaps that exist in the Crew’s backline, the need for more attacking presence, and the important role of Patrick Schulte in goal. The Black & Gold now sit in 5th in the Eastern Conference with much to prove.

Columbus Crew’s next game is against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps. The match will take place at Lower.com Field on Saturday, June 14th at 7:30 p.m.