The match-up between the San Jose Earthquakes and Inter Miami ended in a 3-3 draw, but the real buzz wasn't about the score. Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar, had a real tense showdown with ref Joe Dickerson that ended with a yellow card for the legend.
The whole thing went down right after the final whistle blew. Messi, looking seriously ticked off, marched right up to the ref to give him an earful about a missed call near the San Jose box in the final minutes. The Argentine felt that foul could've been the golden ticket for his team to snatch a win.
From what folks are saying, Messi definitely raised his voice and was waving his arms around big time, even getting right in the ref's face and pointing. Dickerson, not backing down from the player's attitude, didn't hesitate to flash a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct. People who were there say the ref warned Messi that if he didn't chill out, he was gonna get sent off.
Messi's reaction, which is pretty out of character for a guy who usually keeps his cool, surprised a lot of people. Social media blew up with clips of the incident, and everyone's debating whether the yellow was fair or a bit much. Some folks are saying Messi's frustration was understandable, considering what was on the line. But others are pointing out that no player, no matter how big a star they are, should be getting in a ref's face like that.
As for the goals, Tadeo Allende was the hero for Inter Miami, bagging a brace (at the 44th and 52nd minute), with Maximiliano Falcón chipping in the first one for the team in the opening minute. For the San Jose Earthquakes, the guys who found the back of the net were Cristian Arango in the 3rd minute, Beau Leroux at the 37-minute mark, and Ian Harkes right before halftime, in the 45th minute of stoppage time. Lionel Messi didn't get his name on the scoresheet in this one.
from: elfutbolero.us