Inter Miami 3-3 Charlotte Player Ratings: Abada 8.9/10 as the Crowns' 2nd Half Comeback Denied Messi's Miami in a Six-Goal Thriller

Quick Summary Table

Inter Miami led 3-0 at half-time on Decision Day and still did not win. Instead, we got a wild, momentum–swinging six-goal ride that somehow finished 3-3 and still felt like both sides lost. This was one of those Major League Soccer nights where defensive structures melted, and individual quality took over.

Inter Miami absolutely blitzed Charlotte in the first half. Ian Fray opened the scoring, then Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul pushed it to 3-0 by minute 42. We noticed Charlotte’s back line looked stunned, almost resigned, their body language dropping after each goal.

But Charlotte’s response after the break was incredible. Liel Abada dragged them back with a ruthless brace, and then late substitute Rodolfo Aloko completed the comeback at 3-3. What stood out to us was how quickly Inter Miami’s confidence drained, even with Lionel Messi still trying to dictate play.

At Charlotte, the away bench reacted like a cup final win when the equaliser went in. Inter’s coach C. González Peret looked frozen on the touchline, almost shocked at the collapse. From our experience watching so many games, this had the classic feel of a missed statement win for Miami and a chaotic yet priceless point for Charlotte. Check out the Inter Miami vs Charlotte player ratings.

Inter Miami Player Ratings vs Charlotte

Here are the Inter Miami player ratings from the Inter Miami vs Charlotte player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dayne St. Clair - 6: Conceded three, but he was not the biggest problem. We noticed a couple of solid claims and routine stops, nothing spectacular. His distribution was mixed, with some long balls wasted under pressure. He lacked that commanding presence once Charlotte surged. Still, he did enough basics right to avoid a disastrous rating.

Defenders

Sergio Reguilón - 5.5: Only lasted 24 minutes and never settled. We saw him struggle to pick up wide runners early. On the ball, he kept it neat but very safe, maybe too cautious. Defensively, his positioning looked a little off, which might explain the early change. It felt like a planned substitution accelerated by a shaky start.

Casemiro - 6.5: Used as a defender, he brought calm passing and leadership. His 90+% passing is impressive, and we noticed him constantly organising teammates. But he lost several duels and one late header miss summed up his night. He read danger well yet lacked sharpness in physical battles. A decent performance, just short of commanding.

Micael - 6: Quietly tidy in possession, rarely forcing risky passes. We noticed his positioning was generally fine, but he struggled when Charlotte overloaded wide areas. He won a few tackles and clearances but never truly imposed himself. He looked more reactive than proactive against the comeback. An average outing in a very chaotic defensive display.

Ian Fray - 7.5: For us, one of Inter Miami’s best and definitely their most clinical. His opening goal changed the early tone, and he attacked the space with real conviction. Defensively he was okay, making some recoveries before going off at half-time. We noticed his confidence on the ball, driving forward rather than hiding. Subbed at 46, but his impact deserves a strong rating.

Midfielders

Rodrigo De Paul - 8: Our highest-rated Miami player and arguably their man of the match. The goal for 3-0 was pure timing and technique, hit with calm precision. Beyond the strike, his passing was sharp and progressive, rarely wasteful. We noticed his defensive work, with recoveries and one clean tackle helping control the first half. The team dipped as soon as he was subbed, which says a lot.

Telasco Segovia - 6.5: Mixed night with one big high and a few lows. He produced the assist for De Paul’s goal with a nice, measured pass. But the early yellow card seemed to make him more cautious in duels. We noticed some clever short passing, keeping rhythm, yet also cheap turnovers. He contributed going forward but never fully controlled midfield.

David Ayala - 6.5: Played only 50 minutes but kept the ball well and moved it quickly. His passing accuracy stood out, and we saw him link defence to attack smoothly. However, he did not dominate physically, sometimes bypassed by Charlotte’s runners. He felt like a stabiliser rather than a driving force. Decent work before being replaced by Bright.

Forwards

Luis Suárez - 7.5: Classic Suarez, both brilliant and wasteful in one package. The goal for 2-0 was vintage, attacking the cross with ruthless timing and power. We noticed his movement constantly troubling Charlotte’s centre-backs, dragging them all over. Yet he lost many duels and had several poor touches under pressure. The goal and chance creation warrant a strong rating despite the rough edges.

Lionel Messi - 7: Messi looked dangerous but strangely imprecise at key moments. He had multiple shots saved, including one curler that felt destined for the net. We noticed his passing between the lines, creating good situations with four key passes. But he also lost possession a lot and missed a big chance that could’ve killed the game. Still one of Miami’s better players, just not at his absolute ruthless best.

Germán Berterame - 7: His assist for Suarez’s goal was excellent, a smart cross into the perfect area. We saw him work hard off the ball, dropping deep and even helping defensively. He did miss a header later, which slightly dented his overall impact. He was a clever link player rather than a constant goal threat. Subbed just before the hour but left a positive impression.

Substitutes

Gonzalo Lujan Melli - 6: Came on early for Reguilón and tried to steady the left side. We noticed him keep conservative positions, rarely bombing forward. Defensively, he was mostly solid but did not prevent the second-half surge. He neither rescued nor ruined Miami’s structure. A very neutral display in a chaotic match.

Facundo Mura - 6: Replaced Fray at half-time and offered some energy down the flank. He had one shot that missed and a few overlapping runs. We noticed his defensive work rate, tracking runners diligently. However, he could not stop the growing wave of Charlotte attacks. He tried to help but lacked the final quality in both boxes.

Yannick Bright - 6: Came on for Ayala and looked keen to get involved immediately. He had a shot that missed and some tidy touches. We noticed his willingness to press high, though the team shape behind him collapsed. He did not influence the match swing either way. A lively but ultimately limited cameo.

Matias Galarza - 5.5: Entered for De Paul and the midfield instantly felt less composed. We noticed more rushed decisions and fewer controlled transitions. He tried to keep it simple but never imposed himself defensively. Replacing Miami’s best midfielder left him with an impossible task. Still, he could have shown more personality on the ball.

Riquelme - 6: Got several shooting chances late on, but none really threatened the keeper. We saw him take good positions between lines, demanding the ball. Yet his final actions were rushed, almost desperate, as Charlotte pushed for 3-3. He showed intent but lacked composure. A frustrating cameo with flashes of promise.

Manager

C. González Peret - 5.5: The game management really worried us. His team led 3-0 and looked dominant, yet he could not adjust once Charlotte changed tempo. We noticed delayed reactions to the momentum shift, especially after Abada’s brace. Subbing De Paul felt particularly costly, removing their main organiser. He helped build a great first half but oversaw a painful collapse.

Charlotte Player Ratings vs Inter Miami

Have a look at the Charlotte player ratings from the Inter Miami vs Charlotte player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kristijan Kahlina - 6: Conceded three, but he also prevented the score from becoming embarrassing. We noticed a couple of strong long passes that launched counters. His shot-stopping was mixed, beaten cleanly on some well-worked goals. Not at fault individually, yet not heroic either. A very middle-of-the-road performance.

Defenders

Nathan Byrne - 6.5: Worked hard on the right and improved as the match went on. We saw him contribute key passes and push high once Charlotte chased the game. Defensively, he had shaky moments but recovered with clearances and one solid tackle. His energy helped fuel the comeback. A respectable shift in a tough environment.

Harry Toffolo - 6: Early on he suffered badly against Miami’s rotations on his flank. His passing and crossing were okay, but not game-changing. We noticed some good long balls yet also several cheap turnovers. Subbed around the 69th minute as Charlotte reshaped. He improved slightly but never really convinced.

Henry Kessler - 6.5: Under siege in the first half, calmer in the second. We noticed his ball recovery and clearances became crucial once Charlotte pushed higher. He rarely lost possession and kept passing safe and accurate. He was solid but could not fully contain Miami’s early wave. A decent outing considering the chaos around him.

Agyemang Morrison - 7: Very aggressive and committed in duels, exactly what Charlotte needed. We saw him win aerial battles and step into midfield bravely. His headers, including one saved effort, kept Miami under pressure late.

Midfielders

Ashley Westwood - 6.5: As captain, he struggled early but grew into the match before going off. We noticed his distribution improve, especially passes into the final third. He created one big chance, showing good vision from deep. Defensively, he did enough but never fully protected the back line.

Liel Abada - 8.9: Our clear highest-rated player and Charlotte’s hero. After seeing his first goal ruled out by VAR, we expected frustration. Instead, he responded with two clinical right-footed finishes that transformed the match. We noticed his movement was sharp, always finding pockets between defenders.

Pep Biel - 7: Busy, inventive, and sometimes chaotic, but very influential. He assisted Abada’s second and consistently looked to play forward. We saw him attempt dribbles, risk passes, and push tempo whenever possible. Yes, he lost the ball a lot, but mostly trying to create.

Luca de la Torre - 5: Probably Charlotte’s most disappointing starter. He kept possession tidy, yet his error led directly to danger. We noticed him lose most duels and look physically overwhelmed. The blocked shot was one of his few positive attacking moments.

Djibril Diani - 6.5: A strange performance, mixing excellent duels with one big mistake. He won most of his battles and carried the ball forward well. We noticed him draw fouls and disrupt Miami’s rhythm in midfield. However, the error leading to a shot showed his occasional lapses.

Forwards

Idan Toklomati - 6.5: Started and later came back on, which felt unusual and messy. His early assist for Abada’s disallowed goal showed sharp movement and awareness. We noticed his shooting was lively, one effort saved by St. Clair. In duels he battled well, winning most despite limited touches.

Substitutes

Tyger Smalls - 6.5: His involvement around Abada’s first counted goal was important, offering width and energy. We saw his late shot hit the post, agonisingly close to a winner. He stretched Miami’s defence and kept full-backs honest.

Abdoulaye Doucouré - 6.5: Came on for Westwood and added some physicality in midfield. We noticed him pressing high, disrupting Miami’s passing lanes. On the ball, he kept it simple rather than trying to be the playmaker.

David Schnegg - 6: Replaced Toffolo and did a pragmatic job at full-back. We saw him focus on defensive positioning more than overlapping. He helped stabilise the flank, though Miami still created some danger.

Rodolfo Aloko - 7.5: The late equaliser at 3-3 changed everything for Charlotte. We noticed his hunger immediately, attacking spaces and demanding the ball. His right-footed finish felt composed despite huge pressure.

Brandt Bronico - 6: Came on very late and had limited time to influence proceedings. We saw him add fresh legs in midfield, closing spaces diligently. On the ball, he kept things extremely simple, almost risk-free.

Manager

D. Smith - 7: He deserves real credit for the turnaround. At 3-0 down, many coaches would fold or panic. Instead, his changes injected energy, especially with Abada central to the plan. We noticed Charlotte’s structure adjust intelligently, pressing higher and trusting the attack. The final 3-3 scoreline reflects bold, proactive game management rather than luck.

Inter Miami vs Charlotte Man of the Match: Liel Abada (8.9/10)

Liel Abada earned Man of the Match with an 8.9 rating. After a volley was disallowed by VAR early on, he arrived late at the back post on 50 minutes to guide Smalls’ knock-down into the open net from six yards. Five minutes later he took Biel’s backheel and dragged a low first-time shot into the bottom corner for 3-2.

Worst Player in Inter Miami vs Charlotte: Luca de la Torre (5.0/10)

Charlotte winger Luca de la Torre was the lowest-rated player on the pitch at 5.0/10. On 14 minutes, Messi’s corner glanced off Kessler’s head and dropped to him, but he could not control it and sent the ball back towards his own goal, where Fray volleyed in from six yards (0.41 xG). He was replaced by Brandt Bronico on 83.