Inter Miami survives wild match to win 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield

Messi's contributions were a fitting way for Miami to take home the Shield. After firing Miami through the first few games of the season, Messi missed much of the summer schedule, and his teammates carried Miami's Shield challenge admirably in his absence. Messi's two goals against Columbus felt like a formal "Thank you" for the team's efforts during his long injury spell.

The game kicked into high gear in the second half, with Columbus scoring within seconds of the restart only to concede moments later and settle the game at 3-1. Miami then conceded a penalty, allowing Columbus to bring the game to 3-2.

But Columbus couldn't get out of its own way. It went down to ten men seconds after scoring when defender Rudy Camacho received a second yellow card. It was a fair call on merit, but after Busquets received nothing for his far more dangerous challenge in the first half, Columbus fans were right to feel aggrieved by the inconsistency.

At the end of the match, though, Columbus had only itself to blame for losing the game and the Shield. The team is generally consistent, calm and reliable, but it made several uncharacteristic errors on the night that cost it dearly. From the early goal concessions to Camacho's yellow card to Cucho's penalty miss deep into the second half, Miami didn't win this game: Columbus lost it.

That won't matter to the Miami faithful. A trophy is a trophy, after all, and this is the second one the club has lifted since Messi arrived last summer. The MLS Cup playoffs await; Miami remains the favorite to lift that one, too.