Lionel Messi reportedly dodged a suspension, but he is officially out an undisclosed amount of cash after he straight up slapped Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head during Wednesday’s wild 2-2 draw. The Associated Press confirmed Messi and Inter Miami defender Ian Fray were each fined for separate incidents that night. It was a heated contest, and the fines show just how intense it got.
An Ugly Night on the Pitch
It wasn’t just Messi getting into it, either. Ian Fray got hit with a fine for grabbing Sullivan’s neck when things got tangled in the penalty area. Sullivan, not one to back down, responded by tackling Fray. Later in the game, things boiled over again with Cavan Sullivan and Yannick Bright. Both players were slapped with red cards at the end of the game for their own scuffle. However, in a bit of good news for the Union, insider Glenn Crooks reported that Cavan Sullivan’s red card got rescinded after a review, which means he’s clear to play this Saturday.
Beyond the Brawls: The Game’s Drama
Even with all the scuffles, Messi still found a way to be a major storyline for his play on the field. He buried a goal in the 26th minute, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead. But don’t count out the Union, because Philadelphia battled back hard. Thanks to a second-half goal from Neil Pierre, they secured the 2-2 draw and snatched a crucial point. This was the second time these two teams met this season, and both games brought the drama. Their first matchup in May was an absolute fireworks show on the field, with ten goals scored overall, eight of which came in the first half, as Miami took a 6-4 victory.
These two rivals won’t face each other again this season unless they clash in the playoffs. That would mean a pretty dramatic turnaround for Philadelphia, who are currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with 20 points. Inter Miami, meanwhile, is cruising in second place with 39 points and looks locked for the postseason. Look for the Union to bounce back this Saturday against Austin, especially with Cavan Sullivan back in the lineup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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