Miami: Leonardo Campana came off the bench to face Inter Miami in Major League Soccer on Saturday in D.C. United lost 1-0.
Despite Lionel Messi returning to the starting lineup, Miami was held to a 0-0 draw in Orlando on Wednesday by a well-rounded D.C. He struggled to create chances against his defence.
Ecuador international striker Campana, who lost his starting place to Luis Suarez this season, was brought on in the third minute of stoppage time and scored with his first brace.
D.C. campaign made tense, diagonal run across the backline and picked out by Sergio Busquets, brought down lofted pass and then blasted an unstoppable shot past Alex Bono.
It was a brutal end for Troy Lesene’s side, who had improved significantly in their performances under Wayne Rooney last season.
With the win, league leaders Miami earned their ninth win of the season – matching last season’s total after 15 games.
The start of the game was delayed for 25 minutes due to lightning and 15 minutes after the start of the game it started to rain heavily.
Miami enjoyed the majority of possession in the 45th minute, with the visitors holding their form and looking to counter and happily receive the ball.
After the break, his approach paid off, but Jared Stroud missed a good chance when he hesitated from close range.
Messi was limited to two free kicks, both of which hit the wall, and Argentina was at its best with a knee injury in the middle half.
DC grew into the game and Matti Peltola scored a goal in the 69th minute.
Two minutes later, Messi found space on the left side channel, took the ball high with his chest, but blasted his shot over the crossbar.
United had a chance to win in the final moments of regulation after a clever move, but Christian Dajoma’s delicate strike was blocked by Drake Callender.
Campana went on to extend Miami’s unbeaten streak to nine games after an impressive night for Gerardo Martino’s side.
Campaigners can only enter because D.C.
“I think it should have been a 0-0 draw. We weren’t sharp in that game, but I didn’t want to take advantage of all the good things the opposition did, especially the defense … we were good in the build-up,” he said.
“(Victory) is a product of personality. Drake saved us a day ago and we could have lost. We were very lazy, we lacked dynamism,” said the Argentine coach.
In the Hudson River Derby, New York City FC scored the winner in the 64th minute against New York Red Bulls at Citi Stadium, Algeria’s Mounsef Bakrar.
Italian international Federico Bernardeschi scored a hat-trick for Toronto FC as they beat Montreal 5-1 in the Canadian clash.
Phil Neville’s woes in Portland continued as the England manager suffered a seventh defeat in 14 games following a 2-1 defeat in Minnesota.
Portland led 1-0 but South Korean Jeong Sang-bin scored the winner in the 82nd minute for the hosts, managed by former Manchester United manager Eric Ramsey.
Campana’s late stunner gives Miami victory over D.C.
