No Messi, no problem! Inter Miami have to cope without absent star and have two men sent off… but STILL manage to score a last-minute winner to beat MLS rivals Philadelphia Union

Despite missing star player Lionel Messi and sending off two men, Inter Miami scored a sensational late winner to beat the Philadelphia Union.

David Beckham’s side are having a brilliant season after last year’s problems, and perhaps the best moment of the season came without the World Cup winner on the pitch.

While Messi was away with Argentina, Gerardo Martino’s team headed to Eastern Conference rivals Philly, and what could have been a disaster became a night to remember – especially for one rookie.

Leo Afonso, who has only recently been promoted to the first team after graduating from the youth academy, became the match winner in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time to wow the home crowd.

His first goal for the team came on a night when Messi and Luis Suarez were missing from Miami’s lineup ahead of the Copa America.

It was an evening to remember for the leaders, despite the absence of Lionel Messi

Miami also saw David Ruiz and Tomas Aviles each sent off in the second half as both received their second yellow cards.

Union has now lost seven home games in a row – a streak dating back to March 30.

Missing top scorers Daniel Gazdag and Julian Carranza, the Union opened the scoring in the third minute. Mikael Uhre got hold of a ball from Jakob Glesnes, beat his defender and fired the ball past Drake Callender for his sixth goal of the season.

The Union tried to double their lead in the 13th minute when Quinn Sullivan was put through, but he could only shoot wide of the target.

Messi is currently on international duty with Argentina ahead of the Copa America next week

Inter Miami received two red cards in Philadelphia, but still walked away with all three points

Without Messi and Suarez, Miami initially struggled to find a flow offensively, not being credited with a shot on target (or a single shot) until the 39th minute.

But the breakthrough came in the 47th minute when Julian Gressel powered a right-footed shot past Oliver Semmle for his first goal of the season, leveling the match at 1–1.

After their ranks were reduced to nine men – first when David Ruiz received his second yellow card in the 69th minute before Tomas Aviles received his own second warning in the 88th minute – Miami found an unlikely winner through Afonso, who took a short break. two-match winless run in the process.

The win extends Inter Miami’s lead at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference with 11 wins from their first 19 games of the season.