FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As the tropical rain fell and Chase Stadium’s surface slickened Saturday, D.C. United’s first encounter with Lionel Messi became an exercise in tactical discipline and opportunistic forays.
But in second-half stoppage time, the match flipped dramatically, and for the fifth time this spring, United was stung by late-game shortcomings.
A minute after Miami’s Drake Callender made a sensational diving save on Cristian Dájome’s 14-yard bid, Sergio Busquets delivered an exquisite pass to Leo Campana, who beat the offside trap and rocketed a wicked shot over Alex Bono for a 1-0 victory.
“We played an opponent that has so much strength and so much power, and we’re able to limit that for about as much as I’ve ever seen [anybody] do at their place with all of those [major] guys playing,” United Coach Troy Lesesne said.
United (4-5-5) had been good on the road, but this was its tallest task — against a Miami team (9-2-4) that extended its unbeaten streak to nine with a Messi-led attack that began the day averaging three goals per home date.
United was so close not only to earning a point but claiming three.
“It was there for us,” wing back Aaron Herrera said. “The one play we decide to take off, they score.”
“It’s frustrating to not come away with something,” captain Steven Birnbaum said. “We executed well until the end of the game. We have got to see it out. There’s no doubt about it. We got to be more buttoned up at the end of games and can’t be dropping points like this.”
United also conceded late equalizers at St. Louis and Columbus, allowed two late goals in a loss to Orlando and gave up a late tying goal against Philadelphia.
“If games ended in the 70th or 80th minute, we would be top of the table,” Herrera said.
Messi sat out Wednesday’s 0-0 draw in Orlando with a knee ailment but passed his fitness test Friday and returned to the starting lineup. A hamstring injury undermined his first scheduled meeting against United, a 3-1 Miami victory March 16 in Washington.
On Saturday, the presence of Messi in Miami’s high-octane lineup prompted Lesesne to deploy more conservative tactics than usual. Messi has the ability to create his own space, but by tightening his orbit in the middle of the field, United was less susceptible to a quick strike.
Lesesne mixed things up at times, applying high pressure that forced giveaways when Miami had possession deep in its own end. United, though, failed to connect passes in and around the penalty area and failed to test Callender in the first half.
A spell of heavy rain and whipping wind sent fans in uncovered areas hustling for cover and tossed the match into mild chaos. Messi (10 goals and 12 assists in 10 appearances) was undeterred, dancing through little puddles in his own end in an effort to launch a counterattack.
The rain waned for a few minutes; United’s resistance did not. Both of Messi’s free kicks from inside 30 yards failed to clear United’s wall.
The best chance of the half came in the 43rd minute, when Messi set up Benjamin Cremaschi free on the back side, but in a one-on-one situation Bono made a fine leg save.
His tan suit drenched, Lesesne changed into athletic wear at halftime. His players retained their disciplined look.
In the 52nd minute, United should have gone ahead on its first genuine chance of the night. Mateusz Klich lifted the ball to Jared Stroud unmarked on the back side of the box, but Stroud’s angled bid from close range skipped past the far post.
United’s attack continued to build. Klich’s hooked shot was cleared off the goal line by Marcelo Weigandt.
Terrific combination work unlocked Miami’s defense, but Dájome chose to shoot instead of laying the ball off to Christian Benteke lurking on the left side.
Christopher McVey, a former Miami defender, stymied Messi in the box late in the match, and United seemed poised to escape with at least a point. In the dying moments, Miami solved the D.C. puzzle.
“Sometimes you need that outcome in order to feel like you’re moving in the right direction, but tonight told me … this is a group that fights, this is a group that can compete against anyone,” Lesesne said.
Here’s what else to know about United’s defeat:
Birnbaum’s first start
Lesesne’s two lineup changes included Birnbaum’s first start since he recovered from preseason knee surgery. United’s longest-tenured player previously made two appearances as a second-half sub this month. Matti Peltola yielded his place on the back line.
The other switch was Pedro Santos for Dájome at left wing back.
Chicago venue change
With the release of the NFL schedule, MLS teams with stadium conflicts began making adjustments. Because the Bears will play Sept. 8 at Soldier Field, the Chicago Fire will host United on Sept. 7 at 20,000-seat SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill.
