Live updates on the MLS games between Crew and Inter Miami

Two of MLS' top teams, The Crew and Inter Miami, will face off in their third meeting of the season on Wednesday at Lower.com Field.

If league leaders Miami defeat the Crew, the club will win its first Supporters' Shield, awarded to the MLS team with the best regular season record. The crew enters the game in third place. A win or a draw can keep the Crew and second-place Los Angeles Galaxy in contention.

August 13, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates a goal by forward Christian Ramirez (17) during the second half of the Leagues Cup Round of 16 game against Inter Miami CF at Lower.com Field. The crew won 3-2.

Columbus and Miami split two games this year. Miami beat Miami 2-1 at home in a regular season game on June 19th. In August, Miami traveled to Columbus for a Leagues Cup round of 16 game. Although Miami was ahead with 25 minutes left, the Crew staged a comeback to fuel Diego Rossi's two goals that gave Columbus a 3-2 win.

“It was a good football game, both teams played well,” said Rossi. “I think the most important thing we had in that game was that we were down, losing the game, and we still had our ideas and tried to play our football. I think that's why we finally won the game and I think that was the best part.

The biggest difference tonight will be that Miami will have star striker Lionel Messi playing. It will be the first time Columbus has faced him since he joined the league in July 2023. Messi missed the Crew's first two games due to either international training or a right ankle injury.

More:Columbus Crew prepared to face Inter Miami's Lionel Messi

(45+5) Lionel Messi scores with a free kick, Inter Miami takes a 2-0 lead against Columbus Crew

Five minutes after scoring his first goal against the Crew, Lionel Messi scored his second from a free kick at the top of the Columbus penalty area. Inter Miami takes a 2-0 lead before halftime.

Miami was awarded a free kick after defender Rudy Camacho fouled striker Luis Suraz just outside Columbus' penalty area. Near the left side of the penalty area, Messi took the free kick and shot into the left corner of the goal.

(45th minute) Lionel Messi scores against Columbus Crew, Inter Miami leads 1-0

In his first game at Lower.com Field, striker Lionel Messi scored the first goal, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 win over the Crew.

After managing to keep the ball away from two Columbus defenders in the Crew penalty area, Messi went one-on-one with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Messi sent his shot gently to the right of Schulte and scored.

(44.) Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender parries Diego Rossi's shot attempt

From outside the Inter Miami penalty area, Crew striker Diego Rossi attempted a shot that goalkeeper Drake Callender had to make a diving save to save.

(38.) Midfielder Federico Redondo from Inter Miami sees the yellow card

It was the first yellow card of the game as Inter Miami midfielder Federico Redondo received a yellow card for a foul on Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe in midfield.

(34.) Columbus Crew striker Christian Ramirez misses his shot attempt against Inter Miami

From the top left of Inter Miami's penalty area, Crew striker Christian Ramirez fired a shot that went wide left of the goal and out of bounds.

(26.) Sergio Busquets of Inter Miami and Mo Farsi of Columbus Crew collide

Inter Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets was called for a foul on the Miami side of the pitch, which resulted in Busquets colliding in mid-air with Crew midfielder Mo Farsi. Shortly after the foul, fans at Lower.com Field expressed disappointment that there was no red card in the game, especially after a replay was shown.

Farsi required medical attention after the hit, but was able to stay in the game.

(25.) Inter Miami's goal is overturned for offside against Columbus Crew

For the second time in the game, it looked like a player had scored, only to have the goal canceled out due to an offside call. This time it was a Miami goal from defender Marcelo Weigandt that was overruled after he was offside in the Columbus penalty area.

(24.) Rudy Camacho clears the ball during an attempt on goal by Inter Miami

Crew defender Rudy Camacho was able to throw the ball out of bounds on Inter Miami's first attempt at scoring.

(8.) Cucho Hernandez's goal is overruled by an offside report

It seemed like striker Cucho Hernandez had given the team an early 1-0 lead against Inter Miami, and he even started celebrating the goal before the referees determined Hernandez was offside and overruled the goal.

(1') Columbus Crew takes the first corner kick against Inter Miami

The Crew was awarded the first corner kick of the game after Miami kicked the ball over the goal line. When Diego Rossi took the free kick, the Crew were unable to capitalize on the opportunity as Miami quickly cleared the ball with a header from inside the box.